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Skateboarding => USELESS WOODEN TOY BANTER => Topic started by: Murray Hewitt on July 27, 2018, 07:37:45 PM
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Is there possibly a video and team announcement brewing at Vans? Over past few months seems like a few people have been wearing just Vans after leaving their fully 'on' spot at other companies.
Kader: Emerica to Vans - Young, good future investment
Jerry: Emerica to Vans - Could be reaching a 'legend' status soon. Colorways on classic models could sell for years to come.
Axel: New Balance to Vans - Toy Machine video soon. Axel and Lizzy couple shared part.
Greyson Fletcher: Nike to Vans - Fits the gnar bowl thrashin hesh big air criteria
CK1 is seems to just be bro flow.
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Ben k cons to vans bc there was already a shaved head punk rocker dude with the same highwaters and shoes on hockey/ supreme but french
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But really, everyone knows vans is usually the default brand for pros in shoe sponsor limbo
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Pretty sure Kadow is just on pro flow, same is probably true for Axel and Greyson, possibly Hsu too. Their pro flow team is massive. Only dude I could see them pushing hard is Kader because he's killing it super hard and has already been getting mad coverage.
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Ben k cons to vans bc there was already a shaved head punk rocker dude with the same highwaters and shoes on hockey/ supreme but french
lol
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hopefully they can take this new found energy from the young blood and put it into making soles that dont disintegrate in less than a month
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imagine everyone starts leaving their nike/adidas/nb/cons sponnos and goes to Vans and then Vans becomes the big 1 and everyone hates vans and then nike and adidas crumble in all aspects of their brand whether it be basketball, tennis football.. and then become a core skate brand and then its cool to like them again because i remember when it was cool to like nike in the pre 'janoski shoe' and 'lets take every rider from their current team by offering them loads of money and sk8ter outfits' days. and then that all goes to hell and then adio and airwalk and duffs comes back to life and people wear them and then circa and osiris make really good full lengths, and then lakai start to make a newfull length and ty evans dies half way through filming, so they start again and its an awesome video and lakai never suck again and jamie thomas digs fallen out of the grave everything has come full circle and lakai/emerica/fallen rule the footwear market again and everything is okay and thats good because thats how i like it then the world implodes and skating never sucks again because it finished on top
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If Ben is on Vans, it’s probably to go on trips with AA and that Dalton Newbury kid (plus AVE, Dill & Elijah) since the other Hockey guys are on Nike.
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
kinda crazy that those guys will be the b-team, but thats cool for the canadians. also kinda crazy jerry is just bro flow for a company
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If Ben is on Vans, it’s probably to go on trips with AA and that Dalton Newbury kid (plus AVE, Dill & Elijah) since the other Hockey guys are on Nike.
dalton stopped getting boards from FA/Hockey
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imagine everyone starts leaving their nike/adidas/nb/cons sponnos and goes to Vans and then Vans becomes the big 1 and everyone hates vans and then nike and adidas crumble in all aspects of their brand whether it be basketball, tennis football.. and then become a core skate brand and then its cool to like them again because i remember when it was cool to like nike in the pre 'janoski shoe' and 'lets take every rider from their current team by offering them loads of money and sk8ter outfits' days. and then that all goes to hell and then adio and airwalk and duffs comes back to life and people wear them and then circa and osiris make really good full lengths, and then lakai start to make a newfull length and ty evans dies half way through filming, so they start again and its an awesome video and lakai never suck again and jamie thomas digs fallen out of the grave everything has come full circle and lakai/emerica/fallen rule the footwear market again and everything is okay and thats good because thats how i like it then the
world implodes and skating never sucks again because it finished on top
find that period button.
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
kinda crazy that those guys will be the b-team, but thats cool for the canadians. also kinda crazy jerry is just bro flow for a company
which canadians?
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But really, everyone knows vans is usually the default brand for pros in shoe sponsor limbo
2018 Old Skool Pro is the 2000 Koston 1.
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
kinda crazy that those guys will be the b-team, but thats cool for the canadians. also kinda crazy jerry is just bro flow for a company
the ones from canada
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like bluchdell and dustin henry and et and them?
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I'm interested to see what they do with Cole Wilson
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Pretty sure Kadow is just on pro flow, same is probably true for Axel and Greyson, possibly Hsu too. Their pro flow team is massive. Only dude I could see them pushing hard is Kader because he's killing it super hard and has already been getting mad coverage.
pretty sure kader and axel explicitly left emerica and nb# to get on vans.
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Reaching far on this subject...Not too many shoe options out there that don't suck. Vans is crushing it and supporting riders. change topic to Vans Appreciation..
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
Euro TM?
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imagine everyone starts leaving their nike/adidas/nb/cons sponnos and goes to Vans and then Vans becomes the big 1 and everyone hates vans and then nike and adidas crumble in all aspects of their brand whether it be basketball, tennis football.. and then become a core skate brand and then its cool to like them again because i remember when it was cool to like nike in the pre 'janoski shoe' and 'lets take every rider from their current team by offering them loads of money and sk8ter outfits' days. and then that all goes to hell and then adio and airwalk and duffs comes back to life and people wear them and then circa and osiris make really good full lengths, and then lakai start to make a newfull length and ty evans dies half way through filming, so they start again and its an awesome video and lakai never suck again and jamie thomas digs fallen out of the grave everything has come full circle and lakai/emerica/fallen rule the footwear market again and everything is okay and thats good because thats how i like it then the world implodes and skating never sucks again because it finished on top
we would just love that wouldn't we
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
Im so torn what to do with vans these days. I do appreciated all the money they give back into skateboarding and I do enjoy skating in them. On the other hand, it makes me cringe when I walk into a mall and see vans in every store. Do i really want to be wearing a brand carried at DSW? I know vans has been carried in sports stores for a very long time but the shoes were so different that it almost was like two separate brands. Now they have all these modified versions of the classics and just name them something else.
As an identity of a skateboarder I don't want to be under the same class as everyone else. Is it just me that feels this way?
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
Im so torn what to do with vans these days. I do appreciated all the money they give back into skateboarding and I do enjoy skating in them. On the other hand, it makes me cringe when I walk into a mall and see vans in every store. Do i really want to be wearing a brand carried at DSW? I know vans has been carried in sports stores for a very long time but the shoes were so different that it almost was like two separate brands. Now they have all these modified versions of the classics and just name them something else.
As an identity of a skateboarder I don't want to be under the same class as everyone else. Is it just me that feels this way?
just buy Lakai/Emerica?
i feel ya though
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
Im so torn what to do with vans these days. I do appreciated all the money they give back into skateboarding and I do enjoy skating in them. On the other hand, it makes me cringe when I walk into a mall and see vans in every store. Do i really want to be wearing a brand carried at DSW? I know vans has been carried in sports stores for a very long time but the shoes were so different that it almost was like two separate brands. Now they have all these modified versions of the classics and just name them something else.
As an identity of a skateboarder I don't want to be under the same class as everyone else. Is it just me that feels this way?
just buy Lakai/Emerica?
i feel ya though
Yeah because they market themselves exclusively to skateboarders.
(https://assets-vogue-com.cdn.ampproject.org/i/s/assets.vogue.com/photos/5891a84fce34fb453af7c4d2/master/w_900,c_limit/01-lena-dunham-shoes.jpg)
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vans are great, even though everyone wears them I still think skaters look more kooky in a pair of nikes or addidas
plus skate shoes are expensive, whereas with vans you can get a pair of cheap slip-ons for like 30$
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If Ben is on Vans, it’s probably to go on trips with AA and that Dalton Newbury kid (plus AVE, Dill & Elijah) since the other Hockey guys are on Nike.
Wonder what happened FA, was kinda diggin Jewbury's clips. Reminds me of Tfunk a bit.
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The quality of their shoes is horrible that's why you get them for 30 bucks. I went in a vans outlet store recently there was nothing core about it. The manager was showing customers shoes and then telling them the appropriate outfit to wear with them
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The quality of their shoes is horrible that's why you get them for 30 bucks. I went in a vans outlet store recently there was nothing core about it. The manager was showing customers shoes and then telling them the appropriate outfit to wear with them
Did he recommend a fedora?
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My cousin once bought a authentic pro for 9 bucks in a vans outlet store.
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Vans are great. I oughta get me a pair of Crocketts at some point.
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culturally at this point old skools and authentics are just mainstream sneakers with skate heritage. whereas i feel like skate-his still have the skateshoe awareness with most people that buy them.
what i mean is that many people that wear old skools and authentics today are oblivious to the fact that skaters actually still skate in these, even tho regular authentics are like the worst shoes to skate in and old skools fit inconsistently. vans in general are still subpar skateshoes in regards to how well they hold up and how well they fit. they skate good for three days, then feel like crap, not including halfcabs.
i still buy vans from time to time because i like how they look so when i see a cheap pair of old skools or halfcabs that fits well i usually get them. it's a bit like with levis 501s, you have to try them on, because they fit a little differently everytime, but you can get em cheap and it's a classic, if boring look.
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The quality of their shoes is horrible that's why you get them for 30 bucks. I went in a vans outlet store recently there was nothing core about it. The manager was showing customers shoes and then telling them the appropriate outfit to wear with them
Yeah she told me the authentic's they had on the sale rack would go great with the fedora I was wearing
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all the Pro Classics are so good. Best shoes
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My cousin once bought a authentic pro for 9 bucks in a vans outlet store.
I saw a pair of Crockett 2's at an outlet the other day for $10. They were a size 7
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My cousin once bought a authentic pro for 9 bucks in a vans outlet store.
I saw a pair of Crockett 2's at an outlet the other day for $10. They were a size 7
I bought a paid of chimas a couple years back for 10 bucks . Outlet stores are lit.
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Vans outlet stores used to be amazing, around 2001-2005 you could get authentic, eras, old schools and half cabs for £5 a pair all day long, I had them in every colour going and they weren't as shitty quality as they are now. Outlets are shit now that vans are trendy though, super expensive
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
I guess Aidan Mackey doesn't have exactly what Nike wants.
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
right about everything besides the canadians. they already have their own squad that pays them, its called vans canada.
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Vans plans
Vans plans
I feel good sometimes I don’t (ay)
I feel bad sometimes I don’t (ay)
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all the Pro Classics are so good. Best shoes
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Chaz Ortiz has also been wearing vans alot
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You're out of your mind if you think ben k is on anymore than dill flow
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They are starting a B team, kinda like Nikes “Core” program with Cyrus and all the 917 dudes.
Jerry and CK1 are just bro flow, nothings happening with them.
But Kayder, Ben K, Axel, the Canadians, are all about to have their own little squad
Im so torn what to do with vans these days. I do appreciated all the money they give back into skateboarding and I do enjoy skating in them. On the other hand, it makes me cringe when I walk into a mall and see vans in every store. Do i really want to be wearing a brand carried at DSW? I know vans has been carried in sports stores for a very long time but the shoes were so different that it almost was like two separate brands. Now they have all these modified versions of the classics and just name them something else.
As an identity of a skateboarder I don't want to be under the same class as everyone else. Is it just me that feels this way?
just buy Lakai/Emerica?
i feel ya though
I will never understand this argument. I don't understand how sole tech being reliant on dumb conservative suburb kids and corporate skate shops like zumiez is any different or better than vans, who has equally if not more backed core skaters etc. Vans has been tied to skateboarding since the 70s, beyond any other definition it is a skateboard brand first and foremost. yes people in suits are in board meetings making decisions, but have you looked at the sole tech headquarters as well. And frankly vans has backed a far lower economic client base and a more diverse cultural background then San Clemente white kids for there products and team riders. Vans has backed riders that blend generational gaps in skating over that whole duration beyond fanfare. To me as a kid it was dope knowing Vans was backing a say Julian Stranger, or other under the limelight radar. And when people complain that it has gotten to hip or dumb beat bros are wearing old skools, the fact is the majority of the pros who get skateboard product run are beloved by skateboarders (Trujillo, AVE, Walker, Crockett, Chima) and are not celebrated simply on the hype train.
Vans in my opinion gets a pass if it continues to back and select team riders as aesthetically conscious as it has for its historical run. I think it has an exceptional knack in making a team that is contemporarily fascinating but also has ties to early origin skating. If say Berle were on Nike you wouldn't think about ties to Santa Monica, dog town, and early skateboarding was you do when he is on vans. And other riders have different connotations that are also engaging. To me that makes them an exception as most brands are lazy in thinking associatively with riders.
And when it comes to "core" brands, I simply ask where is the uniqueness in current designs? I think with the major sport brands taking storm, smaller shoe brands have fallen back on classic silhouettes appealing to a mid 2000s nostalgic base for designs. Personally the lack of risk or individualism with the sole tech brands, lakai and others is a huge reason why they are loosing traction. There isn't dynamic designs and ultimately that will be they only way they stay alive in being a unique exception. They can blame it on these larger brands and what not but when these companies are backed in a corner, they are falling on simple formulas. And the few companies not doing that I think are benefitting. Huf has strategically prioritized a somewhat unique aesthetic, wanting to be judged on the dynamism of their silhouettes. DC (although much larger than most) is returning to vintage silhouettes they mastered and there is a cool confidence in that, that nike and Adidas can't touch. Obviously it sucks that they are wiping out the potential for more diverse products in stores, and it is an total uphill battle for those brands, but the designs are fairly route regardless.
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Vans does more for skateboarding than anyone else. They just did another give back clinic. They also give riders jobs when they want to do more than just skateboard.
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tldr: vans is forced to put back into skateboarding because it's the smartest way to do business for them to stay relevant in skateboarding as well as in the mainstream. it's not out of philanthropy, rather the company is basically a cultural hostage to skateboarding as a whole.
some of you guys put way too much thought into the supposed ethics of especially, but not exclusively, shoe companies. none of these exist because they want to "give back to skateboarding". they are sure happy tho that adult consumers themselves help them come up with big myths about how they are about pushing the culture.
putting money in isn't everything, it's cool that they sponsor a ton of people and let bum ex-pros work in the warehouse for a while after their career is done, then again they know the mainstream consumer might drop old skools in a while for some other new trendy footwear. vans saw what can happen with companies like dvs that are more backed by fmxers nowadays. vans still has surf and bike programs but really stresses the skate heritage so they stay true to the core scene that will still buy vans when non skaters won't anymore.
perhabs they are setting themselves up for this in the form of this b-team/sub company. maybe the line will be a bit different and more tech, like the ultrarange. or updated classics like they tried with the cab lite. basically vans for a new generation of upcoming skaters that will be designed in anticipation of the mid 90s tech shoe revival. during that time vans were there but they weren't considered cool. only old punk skaters wore vans in 97. maybe they are afraid that dc, adidas and nb# will cash in harder on that trend. nike seems to be immune to trends. actual skaters will keep buying blazers and dunks, janoskis are just another classic nike model now and will go nowhere, everyother nike sb i see as expendable.
it's about markets and shit. vans has been good at consolidating again in the skate shoe market after they were almost irrelevant until rowley dropped his first promodel. vans was kept afloat because they already were (sub)cultural mainstream in the early 90s. all the hardcore/punk/indie kids and generation xers would wear skate-his while most actual skaters didn't care a lot (yeah, despite there was a good team then with j. stranger, agah and even carroll before dc)and were about dc and then es. they don't want to lose their staying power again, so they try to create a new market for once the mainstream market dries up again for them, although there will always be some demand for classic vans models by the mainstream consumer as well imo.
fact is vans needs skateboarding. if the skateboarders drop it, the mainstream consumer will keep it up at this big of an operation only for so long, and committing to non skaters will alienate their core customer base, which means they won't sell shoes so good in the future. that's what it's about. especially since vans has blown up so much and since they are owned by vf. with these big corporations there is no downshrinking plan in case the brand falls out of favor. it's forwards or get sold.
just a theory(vans if you read this and i'm right pay me/give me job plz-->pm only!!!)
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tldr: vans is forced to put back into skateboarding because it's the smartest way to do business for them to stay relevant in skateboarding as well as in the mainstream. it's not out of philanthropy, rather the company is basically a cultural hostage to skateboarding as a whole.
some of you guys put way too much thought into the supposed ethics of especially, but not exclusively, shoe companies. none of these exist because they want to "give back to skateboarding". they are sure happy tho that adult consumers themselves help them come up with big myths about how they are about pushing the culture.
putting money in isn't everything, it's cool that they sponsor a ton of people and let bum ex-pros work in the warehouse for a while after their career is done, then again they know the mainstream consumer might drop old skools in a while for some other new trendy footwear. vans saw what can happen with companies like dvs that are more backed by fmxers nowadays. vans still has surf and bike programs but really stresses the skate heritage so they stay true to the core scene that will still buy vans when non skaters won't anymore.
perhabs they are setting themselves up for this in the form of this b-team/sub company. maybe the line will be a bit different and more tech, like the ultrarange. or updated classics like they tried with the cab lite. basically vans for a new generation of upcoming skaters that will be designed in anticipation of the mid 90s tech shoe revival. during that time vans were there but they weren't considered cool. only old punk skaters wore vans in 97. maybe they are afraid that dc, adidas and nb# will cash in harder on that trend. nike seems to be immune to trends. actual skaters will keep buying blazers and dunks, janoskis are just another classic nike model now and will go nowhere, everyother nike sb i see as expendable.
it's about markets and shit. vans has been good at consolidating again in the skate shoe market after they were almost irrelevant until rowley dropped his first promodel. vans was kept afloat because they already were (sub)cultural mainstream in the early 90s. all the hardcore/punk/indie kids and generation xers would wear skate-his while most actual skaters didn't care a lot (yeah, despite there was a good team then with j. stranger, agah and even carroll before dc)and were about dc and then es. they don't want to lose their staying power again, so they try to create a new market for once the mainstream market dries up again for them, although there will always be some demand for classic vans models by the mainstream consumer as well imo.
fact is vans needs skateboarding. if the skateboarders drop it, the mainstream consumer will keep it up at this big of an operation only for so long, and committing to non skaters will alienate their core customer base, which means they won't sell shoes so good in the future. that's what it's about. especially since vans has blown up so much and since they are owned by vf. with these big corporations there is no downshrinking plan in case the brand falls out of favor. it's forwards or get sold.
just a theory(vans if you read this and i'm right pay me/give me job plz-->pm only!!!)
There is a lot of accurate points in this ( and hope you get the job). Vans I think creates a unique relationship with economic incentive and its appeared specific interest and choices in skateboarding. I think it is a curious case on the dependency on consumers associating with a sub culture even if they aren't aligned with the subculture. Yet I think its fair to say that as currently vans has done it fairly well or at least uniquely for a company its scale.
Yes, this is ultimately financially motivated, but the brand has not wavered despite. And even in the years where off the wall was gone, as mentioned they sponsored so many skaters we know look back on with maybe much more fanfare and appreciation than a myriad of teams from the same time. That might have been chance hearsay but it does create a point of reflection and thus I think a staying power with the commitment from skaters. They never wavered on how good Stranger was and how influential he was. They continue to have invested interest with Cardiel which is no small feat as look at the turnover for the majority of counterparts.
Obviously that is tied to a mutually beneficial relationship but from the outside it seems to have more nuance in construction than your average shoe brand. There calculations seem to market things that I think many revere in the sub culture. A historic sense of skateboarding, exceptions to a norm with team riders or one off unique individuals. I mean they fund the love letters, devoting whole series of episodes for riders that don't ride for vans.
Nike who can operate with a lot more house money wouldn't do that and also we would think it weird for them to do? which in itself demonstrates our perception of vans to its counterparts. I do think that fits the brands marketability, they are a pillar of the culture, they have history in skateboarding etc, but personally that doesn't make it any less profound to skate culture. Even the most associated core brands say Anti Hero is ultimately still economically motivated. If its marketability is based on appealing to those facets and giving certain historic riders paramount that a more comprehensive ploy which in itself makes it all the more devoted by/from skaters.
I do think another interesting development is price point. Many models are simply much cheaper than counterparts. I think thats is what helped it grow beyond skate culture and into sneaker culture. People like to reflect a brand with unique and considered aesthetic senses thats affordability is part of its engaging association.
IDK I just find this really fascinating as well and think vans is a very strange juxtaposition in culture. On one handful of its riders are very removed from the majority of its consumer base. I find that a strange choice but maybe an accidentally brilliant one. I mean what is the marketing incentive to sponsor someone like Andrew Allen if not simply for skaters or deep cut skate fans thinking he is one of the best or at least exceptionally unique. On one level we don't think about it, cause it fits and aligns with many other vans riders but really it fairly strange and unique.
I mean this a company that could be American eagle, only signing pretty cats with surfer brand gusto, which no mistake they do as well (Curren Caples) but its still a strange dynamic choice and one I think many are engaged by. On one hand I think non skaters like associating with Skaters skaters, your Ave's and Trujilos something so specific or historical like the gen X punk, Surfer rock, east LA look that vans also have associations with. People like to associate with something specific even if they have zero invested interest in that subculture. Vans seems to recognize that aspect of counter culturalism or specificity as a core element to its appeal and marketability. And that in itself I think creates a commitment or reverence for the brand. Its a strange development operate on the very minute that effects a huge marketplace. All that aside I do think it would behoove more companies to think more broadly in its associative aspects and or historical context. More specificity in brand image. I think DC is making a unique choice in that matter.
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i agree with a lot of this. i didn't want to come off as cynical or something, of course there's lots of people at work at vans that care a lot about skateboarding. i guess since most core shoe brands are owned by big funds now, i only see money motivated movements everywhere.
i just found this video, haven't watched it yet myself but thought i'd share it regardless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzGULZhhYKo
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wow, dudes really be writing essays about Vans in here
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Vans- Off the Wall (of writing)
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It would be cool to see more small drops, mind of like how they did Syndicate. I haven’t really seen much out of their Arcad department that appeals to me.
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Bring back the polka dot no skools and the xlt's. I beg of you.
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Dunno if this is S.O.P. for Vans, corporate policy, or just a one-off done at the Philly store. At the very least in a cynical sense it is a missed "PR opportunity" for them.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwlY-3kyzMR/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Disgusting, but not surprising. Supermarkets and fast food spots do similar things with their prepared foods.
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Dunno if this is S.O.P. for Vans, corporate policy, or just a one-off done at the Philly store. At the very least in a cynical sense it is a missed "PR opportunity" for them.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwlY-3kyzMR/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Disgusting, but not surprising. Supermarkets and fast food spots do similar things with their prepared foods.
she's obv not a skater, those are just rips and holes from someone totally shredding in those shoes
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Dunno if this is S.O.P. for Vans, corporate policy, or just a one-off done at the Philly store. At the very least in a cynical sense it is a missed "PR opportunity" for them.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwlY-3kyzMR/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Disgusting, but not surprising. Supermarkets and fast food spots do similar things with their prepared foods.
vans is blowing it.
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also vans fire your head designer and see if gilby would like to take charge
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Ervery kid or dude that I see rockin Vans has a bad style.
Worst brand.
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Vans being worn by MLB players during games. What's next, skaters wearing mainstream brands?
https://theathletic.com/4766708/2023/08/10/michael-lorenzen-no-hitter-vans/ (https://theathletic.com/4766708/2023/08/10/michael-lorenzen-no-hitter-vans/)
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Not seen it with shoes, but this is/was a fairly common practice across the fashion industry. Cut and toss out of season products that didn’t sell.
H&M got caught doing this with their end-of-season goods over a decade ago. Employees were tasked with cutting the clothes & tossing them in the dumpster.
Pretty sure they made a statement & stopped it n all that.. but who’s ta truly say.
Truly despicable of Vans and anyone.
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Not seen it with shoes, but this is/was a fairly common practice across the fashion industry. Cut and toss out of season products that didn’t sell.
H&M got caught doing this with their end-of-season goods over a decade ago. Employees were tasked with cutting the clothes & tossing them in the dumpster.
Pretty sure they made a statement & stopped it n all that.. but who’s ta truly say.
Truly despicable of Vans and anyone.
Yeah it's fucked.
High fashion brands do a lot of things like this, to prevent the poors wearing their clothes. A brand like vans could benefit from it though, especially in 2023 when everyone is concerned at how cooked the world is getting.
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In 2016 I filed a warranty claim with a popular backpack manufacturer due to a zipper that was starting to break. 95% of the backpack was in perfect condition, but their warranty process included this:
"In order to redeem your credit, we do require you to destroy it (take a knife to it, and cut a large “X” in the FRONT of the product). We have you destroy the product to ensure that the same product does not get re-entered for another warranty down the road. When you send in photos of the destroyed product, you will be emailed a coupon... "
I couldn't believe that shit. They've since changed their policy, but it was definitely fucked up. A database with a true / false value for a product warranty claim was far too much work.
Then again this industry (particularly the fashion side of it) is largely propped up by taking products made in sweat shops, slapping a logo on them, and increasing the price by 1000%, so I shouldn't be surprised.
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I myself have 18 Lamborghinis. And a Subaru station wagon
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Vans- Off the Wall (of writing)
Vans - Of the Wall
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also vans fire your head designer and see if gilby would like to take charge
All vans in different denims only? I’m your huckleberry
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Not seen it with shoes, but this is/was a fairly common practice across the fashion industry. Cut and toss out of season products that didn’t sell.
H&M got caught doing this with their end-of-season goods over a decade ago. Employees were tasked with cutting the clothes & tossing them in the dumpster.
Pretty sure they made a statement & stopped it n all that.. but who’s ta truly say.
Truly despicable of Vans and anyone.
Yeah it's fucked.
High fashion brands do a lot of things like this, to prevent the poors wearing their clothes. A brand like vans could benefit from it though, especially in 2023 when everyone is concerned at how cooked the world is getting.
Have you seen the mountains of clothes dropped in the Atacama desert? That shit is beyond fucked
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2023/04/11360411/chile-fast-fashion-dumping-atacama-desert-now
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all the ''cool'' moms at my kids school be wearing Vans Hi's on the reg
a couple of them even have one sleeve of plants and flower tats
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And I see all these hot hipster chicks clunking around in new balances……
Guys it’s not us setting the trends….it hasn’t been this way for a long time. These brands spend money on marketing when they have money……it’s not the team the drives the brand….it’s the opposite….
If you want to see a core footwear brand that works the way it should….it’s last resort……..there it is…..see…. Try to stay awake….
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Not seen it with shoes, but this is/was a fairly common practice across the fashion industry. Cut and toss out of season products that didn’t sell.
H&M got caught doing this with their end-of-season goods over a decade ago. Employees were tasked with cutting the clothes & tossing them in the dumpster.
Pretty sure they made a statement & stopped it n all that.. but who’s ta truly say.
Truly despicable of Vans and anyone.
Yeah it's fucked.
High fashion brands do a lot of things like this, to prevent the poors wearing their clothes. A brand like vans could benefit from it though, especially in 2023 when everyone is concerned at how cooked the world is getting.
Have you seen the mountains of clothes dropped in the Atacama desert? That shit is beyond fucked
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2023/04/11360411/chile-fast-fashion-dumping-atacama-desert-now
HEY DUDE THAT SHIT ITS HERE WHERE I WORK!!!!! (its really like 10 km away from my hospital)
We have an special economic zone here for imports: to our country but also for bolivia/paraguay/brazil
All that mess its american and european clothes (mainly Turkey and Germany) that was thrown in recycling bins OR "old" seasons of H&M, ZARA and BERSHKA.
They collect in those countries, fill containers to the top and then and sent them around the world to "classification factories" were they split those containers into small packages like: MEN, WOMEN, KIDS, SHOES, SPORTS, BABY and of course: TRASH.
Basically all the second hand clothing of Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia enters through our port in Iquique, and you can see the amount of TRASH started pilling up quick and thats the result. Its a shame I know.
Thats the process and how recycling its actually a nice lie with nice profits for some people.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/new-vf-corp-ceo-talks-plans-to-improve-business-.html
Corp talk for "bye bye some in the skate team"
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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/new-vf-corp-ceo-talks-plans-to-improve-business-.html
Corp talk for "bye bye some in the skate team"
So do they cut the big contracts and flow the universe, or keep the big dogs only and let the 3rd stringers fight for a roster spot elsewhere?
Zion's bummed he bailed on the swoosh
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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/new-vf-corp-ceo-talks-plans-to-improve-business-.html
Corp talk for "bye bye some in the skate team"
(https://i.ibb.co/zXL5SQ8/avril.gif) (https://ibb.co/CbXtnmJ)
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As barebones as the skateboard industry seems, it's probably already far too bloated for the investment firms who bought in over the past ~10 years when near-0% interests rates were the norm.
Interestingly I think it's companies like Nike who will be in a much better position to weather these storms.
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I heard they canned a couple of big international tours and replaced it with those regional tours you've been seeing around California and other random cities...
Greg Hunt jumped to Adidas right ?
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As barebones as the skateboard industry seems, it's probably already far too bloated for the investment firms who bought in over the past ~10 years when near-0% interests rates were the norm.
Interestingly I think it's companies like Nike who will be in a much better position to weather these storms.
They will just pull out if they need to and re- enter the market when it’s hot again. They’ve done it before.
Late 23 and 2024 are going to see a lot of changes.
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Man, this is almost as bad as when Nike shut down in June 2021!
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As barebones as the skateboard industry seems, it's probably already far too bloated for the investment firms who bought in over the past ~10 years when near-0% interests rates were the norm.
Interestingly I think it's companies like Nike who will be in a much better position to weather these storms.
They will just pull out if they need to and re- enter the market when it’s hot again. They’ve done it before.
Late 23 and 2024 are going to see a lot of changes.
It's already late 2023, and Nike isn't pulling out of skating. My guess is that, at most, they trim their roster, but we haven't even seen that AKAIK. I'm no market watcher and I buy all my shoes at Nordstrom Rack or from the Sale Gear Thread, but it seems like the modern incarnation of Nike SB has really increased Nike's cultural cache and they would be silly to do away with the goodwill that built.
But more importantly, Nike SB isn't owned by a struggling investment firm which purchased it twenty years ago and lucked into a few great years where their shoes were popular. It's a whole-cloth creation of a the world's largest apparel brand and shoe maker which profits ~$20b annually.
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Man, this is almost as bad as when Nike shut down in June 2021!
But not nearly as dangerous as when Nike got into skateboard manufacturing and put all the small board brands out of business!
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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/new-vf-corp-ceo-talks-plans-to-improve-business-.html
Corp talk for "bye bye some in the skate team"
Bracken Darrell is a wild name
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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/new-vf-corp-ceo-talks-plans-to-improve-business-.html
Corp talk for "bye bye some in the skate team"
Bracken Darrell is a wild name
Everytime, I read a quote from some vans suit, It makes it clear that they were never in the vans demographic and never understood vans appeal.
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after seeing the forbes article discussion (https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=128127.0) a few weeks back, i was tempted to learn how to short stocks again. then some big investing company bought into vf corp and their stock went up, and i was reminded trading's always a gamble.
seems like a perfect time for vfc to get the 2007 hit "got my vans on" (https://youtu.be/5fR2OgGbKds?feature=shared) trending. if you're gonna attempt to brainwash people, not being subtle about it is appreciated.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/new-vf-corp-ceo-talks-plans-to-improve-business-.html
Corp talk for "bye bye some in the skate team"
"…always appealing to that slightly mischievous, fun side that we all have inside.”
(https://i.ibb.co/yNP3zzD/Dr-Evil.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zmxk331)
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Man, this is almost as bad as when Nike shut down in June 2021!
But not nearly as dangerous as when Nike got into skateboard manufacturing and put all the small board brands out of business!
Halloween spookies.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/new-vf-corp-ceo-talks-plans-to-improve-business-.html
Corp talk for "bye bye some in the skate team"
"…always appealing to that slightly mischievous, fun side that we all have inside.”
(https://i.ibb.co/yNP3zzD/Dr-Evil.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zmxk331)
"Inside all of us there’s a little bit of an underdog, a little bit of an outsider. Not everybody but almost everybody."
Well, not everybody, but almost everybody.
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VFC down 13% in todays session
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And yes some of us have day traded VF Corp. I've ridden a few bumps when the sad articles are posted in olden days. don't have time or inclination these days for day trading in post-lockup world.
I am still concerns at multiple vans stores didn't see 58 mm hard spits or bones/powell wheels. Gotta be a bad sign-- ordered from Tactics again. I understand that is not the main focus of their store, but if skaters have no reason to come in, why would others come in? Thats not how the halo effect works exactly.
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23% drop is massive. Usually a 5-10% drop would make shareholders go insane. So it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. :S
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2023/10/new-balance-unseats-vans-in-latest-piper-sandler-teen-survey/
This was interesting, New Balance just took over Vans for a popular market survey with teens on what's cool.
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Shorting VF gave me a 250% return 8)
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VF made the Vans president step down. Vans is the worst since it went bankrupt in the 1980s. I wonder if VF will sell Vans.
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Rough times coming to Vans employees for sure.
Bracken kicked off his CEO tenure at Logitech by laying off 140 employees there (5% of their workforce).
"lower its cost base" means cuts everywhere, certainly labor, marketing (which would be sponsored skaters), and projects that don't result in immediate revenue.
I'm not sure how this will trickle down to pro skaters, but it is easy to see how a skater who has a lot of core clout but not much marketability outside of that would be cut. Could be bad news for folks like Dick Rizzo, Tanner Van Vark, or Nick Michel. Even worse, I know Vans is a chief sponsor for decent independent skate media like The Bunt, Quartersnacks, and Jenkem, and that could dry up.
Hopefully they'll actually "reinvest in brand building" and focus on the "skater community", but all that sounds like vague bullshit when we know these companies often just try to make themselves seem more profitable by cutting costs.
For what is worth, Bracken has a base salary of $1.3 mil, plus 175% of that on top as a bonus, plus "granted equity" of $3 mil in stocks that only takes a couple year to vest.
Also note that the inter CEO, Benno Dorer, was given a $300k "completion bonus" on his way out the door (from just several months on the job).
The previous CEO, Steve Rendle, topped over $15 million in compensation the year before that. And that was down from his pay the previous year!
So keep in mind how much these executives get paid when they decide that giving a struggling skater $12k a year isn't in their budget.
https://www.vfc.com/investors/financial-information/sec-filings/content/0001193125-23-169577/0001193125-23-169577.pdf
https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/steve-rendle-vf-ceo-pay-supreme-vans-north-face-dickies-1235204715/
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Guy please don’t disrespect Wracking Darrell
Keep in mind he was the CEO of Logitech
and also led the charge to help Old Spice turn its brand around.
He will know better about Vans and that skateboarding stuff…
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
I got 2 pairs of their recovery slides, one size 10 and another size 11, I am typically a 10.5
I wear them a bunch out and about for errands/ going to low key dinners. but not so much since it gets cold up here in Canada
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I just hope they keep hooking Gilbert up :/
Although, I think he’d look cool in some NB 440s.
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I just hope they keep hooking Gilbert up :/
Although, I think he’d look cool in some NB 440s.
Im down for Quasi X NB
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
I got bad knees so I've owned a few pairs of Bondis. They're for sure comfortable but I find Asics just as good and a bit more practical.
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Great!Great!Great!
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CEO Bracken is crackin': 500 laid off from VF Corp already as part of "Project Reinvent".
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/vans-owner-vf-corp-lays-off-500-employees-restructuring-push-2023-11-30/
A heard a whole bunch of Vans employees got news they were out of the job earlier this week.
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Vans canned a lot of their marketing/creative department.
Like the high ups, too. VP of Global creative gone. And they killed a lot of their marketing team earlier this summer, too.
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Last Resort/Asics/Hours bout to pick up a bunch of flow guys I’d guess
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Last Resort/Asics/Hours bout to pick up a bunch of flow guys I’d guess
This seems pretty optimistic.
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
For running.
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Vans canned a lot of their marketing/creative department.
Like the high ups, too. VP of Global creative gone. And they killed a lot of their marketing team earlier this summer, too.
there's some free career advice in here - anytime a big company does mass layoffs the first out the door are typically marketing/advertising/creative/HR. If a recession is coming (which most assume it is) and people are going to be buying less, you stop spending money on trying to sell them stuff they can't buy anyway and double down on the core product hoping to weather the storm. 2024 let's go!... :(
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
For running.
I've been wearing Brooks.
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I feel extremely embarrassed when I wear my Hokas and I'm not running. They are comfy though.
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
For running.
New Balance filled the demographic....
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Vans canned a lot of their marketing/creative department.
Like the high ups, too. VP of Global creative gone. And they killed a lot of their marketing team earlier this summer, too.
there's some free career advice in here - anytime a big company does mass layoffs the first out the door are typically marketing/advertising/creative/HR. If a recession is coming (which most assume it is) and people are going to be buying less, you stop spending money on trying to sell them stuff they can't buy anyway and double down on the core product hoping to weather the storm. 2024 let's go!... :(
I know this. I work in advertising. Was part of the 2022 layoff madness. Thankfully, found a gig again not too long after.
Add to this, Vans got a new CMO. And usually with any kind of CMO change, the new leader will clean out a lot of higher ups to make room to hire their people and the people they want in those director level positions who will help them achieve their vision and goals for the business.
Have seen this time and time again.
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Please just keep making Half Cabs
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Please just keep making Half Cabs
Sorry buddy, budget cuts means it's Quarter Cabs only for the time being
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Please just keep making Half Cabs
Sorry buddy, budget cuts means it's Quarter Cabs only for the time being
I wouldn’t complain about that. Sounds awesome actually
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Will sleep soundly knowing maybe there’s an end to the vans x literally anything and everything collabs
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Will sleep soundly knowing maybe there’s an end to the vans x literally anything and everything collabs
From the trades, sounds like the new CMO is trying to push units and bring in new brand believers. Which will likely mean more collaborations to bring in interest to the brand that isn’t rooted in skate and/or surf culture.
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one of my chicago homies told me they closed House of Vans chicago. Can't speak about the other ones, but it is pretty fucking stupid to rent a place and leave it empty 99% of the time. All those house of vans were stupid.
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One of the things they’re doing to cut back on costs — less events and promotions that aren’t product specific. Why they pulled out as sponsors from US Open of Surfing, nix’d the Vans Park Series, and House of Vans.
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
For running.
New Balance filled the demographic....
Vans should make a comfy shoe for the middle-aged dad demo called the Minivan.
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one of my chicago homies told me they closed House of Vans chicago. Can't speak about the other ones, but it is pretty fucking stupid to rent a place and leave it empty 99% of the time. All those house of vans were stupid.
What exactly is (was?) the House of Vans. I've seen the name bandied about, but is it really just a venue? Like House of Blues only ... for shoes?
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Skatepark + event space.
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I just bought a pair of these Brooks Ghost Max because I want to run my weekend errands in ultimate comfort. My partner keeps clowning me about them, but I don’t hear her because I’m riding on a cloud.
(https://image.goat.com/transform/v1/attachments/product_template_pictures/images/094/703/820/original/110406_1D_124.png.png)
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Usually indoor parkl/venue/event space I think. We had one in Detroit for a weekend in 2018/19. Would have been amazing to keep around like the ones in NYC or Chicago.
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I just bought a pair of these Brooks Ghost Max because I want to run my weekend errands in ultimate comfort. My partner keeps clowning me about them, but I don’t hear her because I’m riding on a cloud.
(https://image.goat.com/transform/v1/attachments/product_template_pictures/images/094/703/820/original/110406_1D_124.png.png)
I had a pair of those Lakai chillers, can't remember what they were called but they were like the knit ones, and my wife kept calling them my Brooks and I couldn't stop seeing it after that. To the laymen, the Lakai logo probably does get confused for a pair of Brooks very easily
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I just bought a pair of these Brooks Ghost Max because I want to run my weekend errands in ultimate comfort. My partner keeps clowning me about them, but I don’t hear her because I’m riding on a cloud.
(https://image.goat.com/transform/v1/attachments/product_template_pictures/images/094/703/820/original/110406_1D_124.png.png)
These are my daily wearers, only in much more boring and less gaudy color scheme. Sometimes I even try to run in them.
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Please just keep making Half Cabs
Sorry buddy, budget cuts means it's Quarter Cabs only for the time being
I wouldn’t complain about that. Sounds awesome actually
Essentially the Low Cab that they made awhile back, so I actually wouldn't mind that either
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
For running.
New Balance filled the demographic....
Their Ultrarange Neo is legit that.
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He Revived Old Spice. Can This CEO Save a Sneaker That Lost Its Cool?
One of Bracken Darrell’s first stops as CEO of the company that owns Vans was a visit to the son of its co-founder.
Darrell inspected the memorabilia in the office of Steve Van Doren, who is the brand’s ambassador, including photos of Warped Tour, a music festival Vans used to sponsor that helped burnish its counterculture status. Since the company stopped sponsoring the tour and similar events, it has lost more young people than any other age group. Darrell thought he had hit on a clue to help answer how the shoe brand lost its cool.
It is a question a lot of people are asking about the Southern California company, which is dragging down owner VF after years of being its engine of growth. The 60-year-old Darrell, who joined VF in July, is trying to resuscitate the $11.6 billion owner of brands that also include the North Face and Timberland.
He doesn’t have much time. Activist investors are urging him to cut costs and jettison brands.
Key to fixing VF is turning around Vans, which is its largest brand and accounts for nearly a third of total revenue. Vans’s performance has been hurt by a shift in the way VF operates, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees as well as industry executives.
The secret to VF’s success for decades was a hands-off approach that kept corporate expenses low and allowed its brands to retain autonomy over key functions such as product development and marketing. In recent years, it chipped away brand independence and consolidated more power at the corporate level.
“People running the brands started to feel like they had to ask permission to do everything,” Darrell said in an interview, explaining that the corporate entity had become a gatekeeper of resources rather than a facilitator.
At Vans, innovation stalled as the company remained focused on selling shoes designed in the 1970s while many consumers gravitated to more comfortable alternatives.
VF’s net income in the most recent fiscal year declined more than 90% from a year earlier, partly because of the devaluation of its streetwear brand Supreme. VF shares are down about 75% since the end of 2021, making it one of the worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 index over that period. Debt has ballooned to $6.7 billion.
It has put three luggage and backpack brands—Kipling, Eastpak and JanSport—up for sale. In October, it cut its dividend by 70%. And at the height of its critical holiday season, the company disclosed in December that a cyberattack had disrupted its ability to fulfill orders and would likely have a material impact on its business.
Darrell spends much of his time at Vans’s Costa Mesa, Calif., campus trying to diagnose its problems and figure out how to fix them.
He visits stores to talk to customers and works in the company cafeteria, where he shares his mobile number with employees. He plans to steer more investment into the brand and is pushing executives to develop new products faster. He is urging Vans employees to recapture the outsider mindset that many current and former employees say has slipped away as the brand has gone more mainstream. As one senior executive has told staff, “bring back the f— you attitude.”
VF got its start as a glove and mitten factory in 1899 in Reading, Pa. It went public in 1951 and later became a conglomerate of clothing brands, spending billions to swallow Wrangler and Lee jeans among others.
Many of the companies VF owned retained their headquarters—each with a unique identity. Employees skateboarded down the halls of Vans’s offices. At North Face’s headquarters, conference rooms were named for mountains such as Alaska’s Denali peak.
From 2000 through 2016, VF’s revenue more than doubled, while profits more than quadrupled. “Our results demonstrate the strength of VF’s business model,” former VF CEO Eric Wiseman told analysts in 2015.
Things began to change when VF spun off its jeans business in 2019, and moved its corporate headquarters from Greensboro, N.C., to Denver.
For the first time, several brands were brought under one roof, including North Face, JanSport, Eagle Creek and Icebreaker. The goal was to boost innovation and collaboration.
Rather than relocate, employees quit. North Face lost more than three quarters of its staff and had to hire hundreds of people to fill vacancies. A VF spokesman said that while the move to Denver resulted in “meaningful attrition,” it was able to retain key talent.
As the center became more bloated, resources were diverted from the brands, according to a slide deck prepared by the activist investor Engaged Capital, which built a stake in VF. According to Engaged, corporate expenses grew 34% from 2020 to 2023.
Vans was further hamstrung because its parent company relied on its profits to fund other parts of the empire, including smaller labels.
VF tried to impose innovations on its brands that they didn’t always want, and sometimes declined to fund those that the brands deemed important, according to former employees.
It tried to get Vans to make wool sneakers, even though Vans executives said their customers didn’t want them. VF declined to provide more resources for a popular program that allowed Vans customers to design their own shoes, because its other brands weren’t interested in customization.
Darrell’s management philosophy was shaped by childhood trauma.
He grew up in the small town of Owensboro, Ky. On Christmas Eve when he was nine years old, his father left a note on the fireplace mantel telling his family that he was leaving and wouldn’t be coming back.
After his parents divorced, his mother had four car wrecks and a nervous breakdown. Darrell told her to imagine she was on a beach and to draw a line in the sand behind her feet. Everything behind her was the past. She couldn’t change it, but she could learn from it, he told her.
“That’s how I feel at VF,” Darrell said. “The past is something to learn from.”
Over a career in which he revived Old Spice deodorant at Procter & Gamble and steered a turnaround at computer keyboard and webcam maker Logitech, Darrell said he developed a healthy fear of the pitfalls of success. “Once you have it, you start taking fewer risks,” he said.
While at Logitech, which he ran for a decade, he penned a Dr. Seuss-like poem titled “The Secret to Success: Avoid it.”
It reads in part:
“SUCCESS makes you fearful,
Of losing your place,
Of gambling with stature,
Of losing your face.”
Darrell said Vans, which was founded in 1966, had become too reliant on five classic styles that it has sold since its infancy—including the checkerboard slip-ons worn in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” by Sean Penn.
The classics are made much the way they were at inception, by gluing the upper part of the shoe to a flat rubber sole. That method still resonates with the skate crowd, who like the way the shoes grip the boards. But non-skaters complain on websites such as Reddit—where one thread is titled “Don’t your feet hurt after wearing Vans”—about the shoes’ flat footbeds that have little arch support.
Darrell is pushing executives to move faster to churn out new styles that are more in tune with current trends and has examined the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce over the next three seasons.
Another move is to free up all of VF’s brand presidents from some of the daily minutia so they can spend more time on product innovation. And he’s outlined $300 million in cost cuts, including the elimination of 500 jobs globally, a portion of which will be reinvested into the brands.
So far he has the support of the activists. “Bracken is doing a diligent job in understanding what made VF special for more than 100 years and he’s moving with urgency to fix the damage from the last five years,” said Glenn Welling, Engaged’s founder.
“Vans caught a wave,” Darrell said, referring to the brand’s turbocharged growth of recent decades when everyone from Rihanna to David Beckham was wearing its sneakers. “That’s a dream, but if you’ve misdiagnosed why it grew, it can be a nightmare on the way down.”
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Thank goodness they’ve got the second Beatrice shoe to revive their sagging fortunes.
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Thank goodness they’ve got the second Beatrice shoe to revive their sagging fortunes.
Her Zahba mids went from all but one size still in stock to not on the site at my local shop. I wonder if they just sent them back or gave em out to the shop riders.
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He Revived Old Spice. Can This CEO Save a Sneaker That Lost Its Cool?
Expand Quote
One of Bracken Darrell’s first stops as CEO of the company that owns Vans was a visit to the son of its co-founder.
Darrell inspected the memorabilia in the office of Steve Van Doren, who is the brand’s ambassador, including photos of Warped Tour, a music festival Vans used to sponsor that helped burnish its counterculture status. Since the company stopped sponsoring the tour and similar events, it has lost more young people than any other age group. Darrell thought he had hit on a clue to help answer how the shoe brand lost its cool.
It is a question a lot of people are asking about the Southern California company, which is dragging down owner VF after years of being its engine of growth. The 60-year-old Darrell, who joined VF in July, is trying to resuscitate the $11.6 billion owner of brands that also include the North Face and Timberland.
He doesn’t have much time. Activist investors are urging him to cut costs and jettison brands.
Key to fixing VF is turning around Vans, which is its largest brand and accounts for nearly a third of total revenue. Vans’s performance has been hurt by a shift in the way VF operates, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees as well as industry executives.
The secret to VF’s success for decades was a hands-off approach that kept corporate expenses low and allowed its brands to retain autonomy over key functions such as product development and marketing. In recent years, it chipped away brand independence and consolidated more power at the corporate level.
“People running the brands started to feel like they had to ask permission to do everything,” Darrell said in an interview, explaining that the corporate entity had become a gatekeeper of resources rather than a facilitator.
At Vans, innovation stalled as the company remained focused on selling shoes designed in the 1970s while many consumers gravitated to more comfortable alternatives.
VF’s net income in the most recent fiscal year declined more than 90% from a year earlier, partly because of the devaluation of its streetwear brand Supreme. VF shares are down about 75% since the end of 2021, making it one of the worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 index over that period. Debt has ballooned to $6.7 billion.
It has put three luggage and backpack brands—Kipling, Eastpak and JanSport—up for sale. In October, it cut its dividend by 70%. And at the height of its critical holiday season, the company disclosed in December that a cyberattack had disrupted its ability to fulfill orders and would likely have a material impact on its business.
Darrell spends much of his time at Vans’s Costa Mesa, Calif., campus trying to diagnose its problems and figure out how to fix them.
He visits stores to talk to customers and works in the company cafeteria, where he shares his mobile number with employees. He plans to steer more investment into the brand and is pushing executives to develop new products faster. He is urging Vans employees to recapture the outsider mindset that many current and former employees say has slipped away as the brand has gone more mainstream. As one senior executive has told staff, “bring back the f— you attitude.”
VF got its start as a glove and mitten factory in 1899 in Reading, Pa. It went public in 1951 and later became a conglomerate of clothing brands, spending billions to swallow Wrangler and Lee jeans among others.
Many of the companies VF owned retained their headquarters—each with a unique identity. Employees skateboarded down the halls of Vans’s offices. At North Face’s headquarters, conference rooms were named for mountains such as Alaska’s Denali peak.
From 2000 through 2016, VF’s revenue more than doubled, while profits more than quadrupled. “Our results demonstrate the strength of VF’s business model,” former VF CEO Eric Wiseman told analysts in 2015.
Things began to change when VF spun off its jeans business in 2019, and moved its corporate headquarters from Greensboro, N.C., to Denver.
For the first time, several brands were brought under one roof, including North Face, JanSport, Eagle Creek and Icebreaker. The goal was to boost innovation and collaboration.
Rather than relocate, employees quit. North Face lost more than three quarters of its staff and had to hire hundreds of people to fill vacancies. A VF spokesman said that while the move to Denver resulted in “meaningful attrition,” it was able to retain key talent.
As the center became more bloated, resources were diverted from the brands, according to a slide deck prepared by the activist investor Engaged Capital, which built a stake in VF. According to Engaged, corporate expenses grew 34% from 2020 to 2023.
Vans was further hamstrung because its parent company relied on its profits to fund other parts of the empire, including smaller labels.
VF tried to impose innovations on its brands that they didn’t always want, and sometimes declined to fund those that the brands deemed important, according to former employees.
It tried to get Vans to make wool sneakers, even though Vans executives said their customers didn’t want them. VF declined to provide more resources for a popular program that allowed Vans customers to design their own shoes, because its other brands weren’t interested in customization.
Darrell’s management philosophy was shaped by childhood trauma.
He grew up in the small town of Owensboro, Ky. On Christmas Eve when he was nine years old, his father left a note on the fireplace mantel telling his family that he was leaving and wouldn’t be coming back.
After his parents divorced, his mother had four car wrecks and a nervous breakdown. Darrell told her to imagine she was on a beach and to draw a line in the sand behind her feet. Everything behind her was the past. She couldn’t change it, but she could learn from it, he told her.
“That’s how I feel at VF,” Darrell said. “The past is something to learn from.”
Over a career in which he revived Old Spice deodorant at Procter & Gamble and steered a turnaround at computer keyboard and webcam maker Logitech, Darrell said he developed a healthy fear of the pitfalls of success. “Once you have it, you start taking fewer risks,” he said.
While at Logitech, which he ran for a decade, he penned a Dr. Seuss-like poem titled “The Secret to Success: Avoid it.”
It reads in part:
“SUCCESS makes you fearful,
Of losing your place,
Of gambling with stature,
Of losing your face.”
Darrell said Vans, which was founded in 1966, had become too reliant on five classic styles that it has sold since its infancy—including the checkerboard slip-ons worn in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” by Sean Penn.
The classics are made much the way they were at inception, by gluing the upper part of the shoe to a flat rubber sole. That method still resonates with the skate crowd, who like the way the shoes grip the boards. But non-skaters complain on websites such as Reddit—where one thread is titled “Don’t your feet hurt after wearing Vans”—about the shoes’ flat footbeds that have little arch support.
Darrell is pushing executives to move faster to churn out new styles that are more in tune with current trends and has examined the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce over the next three seasons.
Another move is to free up all of VF’s brand presidents from some of the daily minutia so they can spend more time on product innovation. And he’s outlined $300 million in cost cuts, including the elimination of 500 jobs globally, a portion of which will be reinvested into the brands.
So far he has the support of the activists. “Bracken is doing a diligent job in understanding what made VF special for more than 100 years and he’s moving with urgency to fix the damage from the last five years,” said Glenn Welling, Engaged’s founder.
“Vans caught a wave,” Darrell said, referring to the brand’s turbocharged growth of recent decades when everyone from Rihanna to David Beckham was wearing its sneakers. “That’s a dream, but if you’ve misdiagnosed why it grew, it can be a nightmare on the way down.”
Here's a couple excerpts that stand out to me:
"Darrell inspected the memorabilia in the office of Steve Van Doren, who is the brand’s ambassador, including photos of Warped Tour, a music festival Vans used to sponsor that helped burnish its counterculture status. Since the company stopped sponsoring the tour and similar events, it has lost more young people than any other age group. Darrell thought he had hit on a clue to help answer how the shoe brand lost its cool."
"Darrell said Vans, which was founded in 1966, had become too reliant on five classic styles that it has sold since its infancy."
"Darrell is pushing executives to move faster to churn out new styles that are more in tune with current trends and has examined the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce over the next three seasons."
So this guy wants to restore Vans to its countercultural roots by moving away from its classics and chasing current trends. Sounds very countercultural. Good luck!
-
Damn, it sounds like Vans is about to suck even more. The classics is what keeps people coming back, not the Zahbas or the Rowans.
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You have to make "New Coke" before you can make record sales on "Classic Coke". They did it in the late 90's and they're doing it again
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VF’s net income in the most recent fiscal year declined more than 90% from a year earlier, partly because of the devaluation of its streetwear brand Supreme.
Shocked that Supreme wasn't actually worth $2,000,000,000.
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Is there possibly a video and team announcement brewing at Vans? Over past few months seems like a few people have been wearing just Vans after leaving their fully 'on' spot at other companies.
Kader: Emerica to Vans - Young, good future investment
Jerry: Emerica to Vans - Could be reaching a 'legend' status soon. Colorways on classic models could sell for years to come.
Axel: New Balance to Vans - Toy Machine video soon. Axel and Lizzy couple shared part.
Greyson Fletcher: Nike to Vans - Fits the gnar bowl thrashin hesh big air criteria
CK1 is seems to just be bro flow.
Jerry reached legend status in 2006
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Expand Quote
VF’s net income in the most recent fiscal year declined more than 90% from a year earlier, partly because of the devaluation of its streetwear brand Supreme.
Shocked that Supreme wasn't actually worth $2,000,000,000.
they thought they were getting budding and undervalued Louis vutton and not just like 10 skate shops that sale 50$ tshirts.
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Expand Quote
He Revived Old Spice. Can This CEO Save a Sneaker That Lost Its Cool?
Expand Quote
One of Bracken Darrell’s first stops as CEO of the company that owns Vans was a visit to the son of its co-founder.
Darrell inspected the memorabilia in the office of Steve Van Doren, who is the brand’s ambassador, including photos of Warped Tour, a music festival Vans used to sponsor that helped burnish its counterculture status. Since the company stopped sponsoring the tour and similar events, it has lost more young people than any other age group. Darrell thought he had hit on a clue to help answer how the shoe brand lost its cool.
It is a question a lot of people are asking about the Southern California company, which is dragging down owner VF after years of being its engine of growth. The 60-year-old Darrell, who joined VF in July, is trying to resuscitate the $11.6 billion owner of brands that also include the North Face and Timberland.
He doesn’t have much time. Activist investors are urging him to cut costs and jettison brands.
Key to fixing VF is turning around Vans, which is its largest brand and accounts for nearly a third of total revenue. Vans’s performance has been hurt by a shift in the way VF operates, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees as well as industry executives.
The secret to VF’s success for decades was a hands-off approach that kept corporate expenses low and allowed its brands to retain autonomy over key functions such as product development and marketing. In recent years, it chipped away brand independence and consolidated more power at the corporate level.
“People running the brands started to feel like they had to ask permission to do everything,” Darrell said in an interview, explaining that the corporate entity had become a gatekeeper of resources rather than a facilitator.
At Vans, innovation stalled as the company remained focused on selling shoes designed in the 1970s while many consumers gravitated to more comfortable alternatives.
VF’s net income in the most recent fiscal year declined more than 90% from a year earlier, partly because of the devaluation of its streetwear brand Supreme. VF shares are down about 75% since the end of 2021, making it one of the worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 index over that period. Debt has ballooned to $6.7 billion.
It has put three luggage and backpack brands—Kipling, Eastpak and JanSport—up for sale. In October, it cut its dividend by 70%. And at the height of its critical holiday season, the company disclosed in December that a cyberattack had disrupted its ability to fulfill orders and would likely have a material impact on its business.
Darrell spends much of his time at Vans’s Costa Mesa, Calif., campus trying to diagnose its problems and figure out how to fix them.
He visits stores to talk to customers and works in the company cafeteria, where he shares his mobile number with employees. He plans to steer more investment into the brand and is pushing executives to develop new products faster. He is urging Vans employees to recapture the outsider mindset that many current and former employees say has slipped away as the brand has gone more mainstream. As one senior executive has told staff, “bring back the f— you attitude.”
VF got its start as a glove and mitten factory in 1899 in Reading, Pa. It went public in 1951 and later became a conglomerate of clothing brands, spending billions to swallow Wrangler and Lee jeans among others.
Many of the companies VF owned retained their headquarters—each with a unique identity. Employees skateboarded down the halls of Vans’s offices. At North Face’s headquarters, conference rooms were named for mountains such as Alaska’s Denali peak.
From 2000 through 2016, VF’s revenue more than doubled, while profits more than quadrupled. “Our results demonstrate the strength of VF’s business model,” former VF CEO Eric Wiseman told analysts in 2015.
Things began to change when VF spun off its jeans business in 2019, and moved its corporate headquarters from Greensboro, N.C., to Denver.
For the first time, several brands were brought under one roof, including North Face, JanSport, Eagle Creek and Icebreaker. The goal was to boost innovation and collaboration.
Rather than relocate, employees quit. North Face lost more than three quarters of its staff and had to hire hundreds of people to fill vacancies. A VF spokesman said that while the move to Denver resulted in “meaningful attrition,” it was able to retain key talent.
As the center became more bloated, resources were diverted from the brands, according to a slide deck prepared by the activist investor Engaged Capital, which built a stake in VF. According to Engaged, corporate expenses grew 34% from 2020 to 2023.
Vans was further hamstrung because its parent company relied on its profits to fund other parts of the empire, including smaller labels.
VF tried to impose innovations on its brands that they didn’t always want, and sometimes declined to fund those that the brands deemed important, according to former employees.
It tried to get Vans to make wool sneakers, even though Vans executives said their customers didn’t want them. VF declined to provide more resources for a popular program that allowed Vans customers to design their own shoes, because its other brands weren’t interested in customization.
Darrell’s management philosophy was shaped by childhood trauma.
He grew up in the small town of Owensboro, Ky. On Christmas Eve when he was nine years old, his father left a note on the fireplace mantel telling his family that he was leaving and wouldn’t be coming back.
After his parents divorced, his mother had four car wrecks and a nervous breakdown. Darrell told her to imagine she was on a beach and to draw a line in the sand behind her feet. Everything behind her was the past. She couldn’t change it, but she could learn from it, he told her.
“That’s how I feel at VF,” Darrell said. “The past is something to learn from.”
Over a career in which he revived Old Spice deodorant at Procter & Gamble and steered a turnaround at computer keyboard and webcam maker Logitech, Darrell said he developed a healthy fear of the pitfalls of success. “Once you have it, you start taking fewer risks,” he said.
While at Logitech, which he ran for a decade, he penned a Dr. Seuss-like poem titled “The Secret to Success: Avoid it.”
It reads in part:
“SUCCESS makes you fearful,
Of losing your place,
Of gambling with stature,
Of losing your face.”
Darrell said Vans, which was founded in 1966, had become too reliant on five classic styles that it has sold since its infancy—including the checkerboard slip-ons worn in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” by Sean Penn.
The classics are made much the way they were at inception, by gluing the upper part of the shoe to a flat rubber sole. That method still resonates with the skate crowd, who like the way the shoes grip the boards. But non-skaters complain on websites such as Reddit—where one thread is titled “Don’t your feet hurt after wearing Vans”—about the shoes’ flat footbeds that have little arch support.
Darrell is pushing executives to move faster to churn out new styles that are more in tune with current trends and has examined the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce over the next three seasons.
Another move is to free up all of VF’s brand presidents from some of the daily minutia so they can spend more time on product innovation. And he’s outlined $300 million in cost cuts, including the elimination of 500 jobs globally, a portion of which will be reinvested into the brands.
So far he has the support of the activists. “Bracken is doing a diligent job in understanding what made VF special for more than 100 years and he’s moving with urgency to fix the damage from the last five years,” said Glenn Welling, Engaged’s founder.
“Vans caught a wave,” Darrell said, referring to the brand’s turbocharged growth of recent decades when everyone from Rihanna to David Beckham was wearing its sneakers. “That’s a dream, but if you’ve misdiagnosed why it grew, it can be a nightmare on the way down.”
Here's a couple excerpts that stand out to me:
"Darrell inspected the memorabilia in the office of Steve Van Doren, who is the brand’s ambassador, including photos of Warped Tour, a music festival Vans used to sponsor that helped burnish its counterculture status. Since the company stopped sponsoring the tour and similar events, it has lost more young people than any other age group. Darrell thought he had hit on a clue to help answer how the shoe brand lost its cool."
"Darrell said Vans, which was founded in 1966, had become too reliant on five classic styles that it has sold since its infancy."
"Darrell is pushing executives to move faster to churn out new styles that are more in tune with current trends and has examined the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce over the next three seasons."
So this guy wants to restore Vans to its countercultural roots by moving away from its classics and chasing current trends. Sounds very countercultural. Good luck!
Give Bracken Darrell credit where it's due: he is, if nothing else, remarkably skilled at inspiring his workforce to despise him. He banned Steve Van Doren from his longstanding tradition of BBQing for the crowd at Vans events. So satisfying to know that both Steve and the rest of the company said FUCK YOU to their new corpo exec overlord and continue to have Steve do his thing at the events for now.
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It’s always good to get feedback from employees and in store customers, but chances are these few interactions aren’t going to give you a roadmap.
He mentions the ‘five styles’ but my 14 year old daughter wears sk8 hi and slip ons and because she’s young she doesn’t care foot pain.
The brand is their shoes prior to the mid nineties. KISS.
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Sounds like a bunch of corporate capitalist middle managers were getting fat off of Vans for the past 5 years at the expense of the brand, and now a new bunch of corporate capitalist middle managers are gonna get fat off of burning what’s left of Vans to the ground.
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Looks like i've got some stocking up to do
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As one senior executive has told staff, “bring back the f— you attitude.”
oooh…cool.
Try to save some pussy for the rest of us, One Senior Executive.
(https://i.ibb.co/whR6Zcj/IMG-2865.jpg)
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As one senior executive has told staff, “bring back the f— you attitude.”
oooh…cool.
Try to save some chicks for the rest of us, One Senior Executive.
(https://i.ibb.co/whR6Zcj/IMG-2865.jpg)
I actually think you are on the right track. Reinvent the past…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284952310533?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=284952310533&targetid=1528987485976&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9060373&poi=&campaignid=19851828444&mkgroupid=145880009014&rlsatarget=pla-1528987485976&abcId=9307249&merchantid=101704494&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh9d8Dly3-styfQO98AES4hmH&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4NiqlsXCgwMVXl9HAR22vQQ-EAQYASABEgL5LPD_BwE
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Expand Quote
As one senior executive has told staff, “bring back the f— you attitude.”
oooh…cool.
Try to save some chicks for the rest of us, One Senior Executive.
(https://i.ibb.co/whR6Zcj/IMG-2865.jpg)
I actually think you are on the right track. Reinvent the past…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284952310533?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=284952310533&targetid=1528987485976&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9060373&poi=&campaignid=19851828444&mkgroupid=145880009014&rlsatarget=pla-1528987485976&abcId=9307249&merchantid=101704494&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh9d8Dly3-styfQO98AES4hmH&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4NiqlsXCgwMVXl9HAR22vQQ-EAQYASABEgL5LPD_BwE
Those shoes are so much cooler than anything Vans has put out for the past five years.
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He Revived Old Spice. Can This CEO Save a Sneaker That Lost Its Cool?
Expand Quote
One of Bracken Darrell’s first stops as CEO of the company that owns Vans was a visit to the son of its co-founder...
Thanks for posting this article.
I can rest easy that the suits at VF Corp will "move faster to churn out new styles" and a C-Suite exec who revived a deodorant brand will "examine the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce".
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Here are two things I know about Vans;
1. Authentics look like kung fu puppeteer shoes
2. Kyle Rittenhouse, Flo from Progressive, and Youth Pastors wear old schools
Also, there should not be Skate-HI’s and Skate-Skate-HI’s. That is stupid as shit.
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This part of the article caught me:
Over a career in which he revived Old Spice deodorant at Procter & Gamble and steered a turnaround at computer keyboard and webcam maker Logitech, Darrell said he developed a healthy fear of the pitfalls of success. “Once you have it, you start taking fewer risks,” he said.
I have friends and acquaintances that worked at the ad agency (Wieden+Kennedy) running the resurgence of the brand and none of them met and/or knew this guy.
He worked on Braun under P&G — parent company same as Old Spice — which leaves me wondering if this is a case of bad reporting, or if he lied and took credit about bringing back the Old Spice to further his career?
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This CEO Fucks…
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQyjAiOHPIMzWa04P0pvuzNl94y3iclrsapvw&usqp=CAU)
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Here are two things I know about Vans;
1. Authentics look like kung fu puppeteer shoes
2. Kyle Rittenhouse, Flo from Progressive, and Youth Pastors wear old schools
Also, there should not be Skate-HI’s and Skate-Skate-HI’s. That is stupid as shit.
Hold up do we not fw Flo?
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Expand Quote
Here are two things I know about Vans;
1. Authentics look like kung fu puppeteer shoes
2. Kyle Rittenhouse, Flo from Progressive, and Youth Pastors wear old schools
Also, there should not be Skate-HI’s and Skate-Skate-HI’s. That is stupid as shit.
Hold up do we not fw Flo?
He just prefers the Geico gecko
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The Geico Gecko wore Osiris D3s and let me steal some of his grandma’s Ferraro Rochers every time I came over.
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Vans chasing trends has never really worked. They are footwear Levis.
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VF Corp is worth 1/5 what it was 2 years ago and last year made zero money after expenses. A company that includes North Face, Dickies, Supreme, and Vans.
Expect Dickies to go up in price, Supreme to continue its descent into irrelevance as people move to actual designer for more clout, and Vans skate team will get hollowed out into brand life support, just selling their original shoes for higher prices. North Face will keep printing $ for selling comparable outwear for 50% more than competitors because of a corporate logo.
In larger news, a middle class life for a pro skateboarder is rapidly heading towards 50 slots on 4-5 shoe companies that includes a lot of internet social media manager work convincing people to buy your shit. Everyone else will be luckily to eke out an amateur existence of $20k/year in places where the average person makes $60k.
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Expand Quote
He Revived Old Spice. Can This CEO Save a Sneaker That Lost Its Cool?
Expand Quote
One of Bracken Darrell’s first stops as CEO of the company that owns Vans was a visit to the son of its co-founder...
I can rest easy that the suits at VF Corp will "move faster to churn out new styles" and a C-Suite exec who revived a deodorant brand will "examine the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce".
They need to get Axion Steve to sign on as Vans Steve.
Ah shit there's already a Vans Steve.
(https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/11/4/tmp/f323e1236e3c/tmp-name-3-414-1670733077-195_dblbig.jpg)
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Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Here are two things I know about Vans;
1. Authentics look like kung fu puppeteer shoes
2. Kyle Rittenhouse, Flo from Progressive, and Youth Pastors wear old schools
Also, there should not be Skate-HI’s and Skate-Skate-HI’s. That is stupid as shit.
Hold up do we not fw Flo?
He just prefers the Geico gecko
I don't care what the new CEO of Vans is doing but this comment made me laugh
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Thanks for linking that article.
It shouldn't have taken me until just now to figure out why those hiking boot half cabs got made: VF Corp inbreeding.
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Vans are hurtin' for sure, all the big players on the surf team havn't been re-signed so i'm sure skate will follow.
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I've been trying New Balance but gonna go back to the flat footed Vans as my flat flipper feet can't wear anything else. Vans just needs it's evergreen classics to be just that and lean into it as a staple. reissue these cunts. Reduce their endless growth need and settle being a successful brand. Eternal growth is the death of everything.
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nWoAAOSw2VNjEZgT/s-l1600.jpg)
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im curious how heavy handed/overbearing VF was with that zahba mid push we saw last year - if they were at all
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
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I've been trying New Balance but gonna go back to the flat footed Vans as my flat flipper feet can't wear anything else. Vans just needs it's evergreen classics to be just that and lean into it as a staple. reissue these cunts. Reduce their endless growth need and settle being a successful brand. Eternal growth is the death of everything.
Fuckin oath.
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
I'm no business genius, but changing the focus of your skate shoe company to a sport where people don't wear shoes doesn't seem like the smartest play.
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Darrell is up to his tricks again
(https://i.ibb.co/T41rrxc/ADC30-E3-A-A90-F-4-B3-A-BA84-39-E6729-EFB79.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T41rrxc)
If only they made these in wool
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Vans are hurtin' for sure, all the big players on the surf team havn't been re-signed so i'm sure skate will follow.
No way they wouldn't want to re-sign the Florence bros, but maybe they are negotiating for a lot less.
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One of Bracken Darrell’s first stops as CEO of the company that owns Vans was a visit to the son of its co-founder.
Darrell inspected the memorabilia in the office of Steve Van Doren, who is the brand’s ambassador, including photos of Warped Tour, a music festival Vans used to sponsor that helped burnish its counterculture status. Since the company stopped sponsoring the tour and similar events, it has lost more young people than any other age group. Darrell thought he had hit on a clue to help answer how the shoe brand lost its cool.
It is a question a lot of people are asking about the Southern California company, which is dragging down owner VF after years of being its engine of growth. The 60-year-old Darrell, who joined VF in July, is trying to resuscitate the $11.6 billion owner of brands that also include the North Face and Timberland.
He doesn’t have much time. Activist investors are urging him to cut costs and jettison brands.
Key to fixing VF is turning around Vans, which is its largest brand and accounts for nearly a third of total revenue. Vans’s performance has been hurt by a shift in the way VF operates, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees as well as industry executives.
The secret to VF’s success for decades was a hands-off approach that kept corporate expenses low and allowed its brands to retain autonomy over key functions such as product development and marketing. In recent years, it chipped away brand independence and consolidated more power at the corporate level.
“People running the brands started to feel like they had to ask permission to do everything,” Darrell said in an interview, explaining that the corporate entity had become a gatekeeper of resources rather than a facilitator.
At Vans, innovation stalled as the company remained focused on selling shoes designed in the 1970s while many consumers gravitated to more comfortable alternatives.
VF’s net income in the most recent fiscal year declined more than 90% from a year earlier, partly because of the devaluation of its streetwear brand Supreme. VF shares are down about 75% since the end of 2021, making it one of the worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 index over that period. Debt has ballooned to $6.7 billion.
It has put three luggage and backpack brands—Kipling, Eastpak and JanSport—up for sale. In October, it cut its dividend by 70%. And at the height of its critical holiday season, the company disclosed in December that a cyberattack had disrupted its ability to fulfill orders and would likely have a material impact on its business.
Darrell spends much of his time at Vans’s Costa Mesa, Calif., campus trying to diagnose its problems and figure out how to fix them.
He visits stores to talk to customers and works in the company cafeteria, where he shares his mobile number with employees. He plans to steer more investment into the brand and is pushing executives to develop new products faster. He is urging Vans employees to recapture the outsider mindset that many current and former employees say has slipped away as the brand has gone more mainstream. As one senior executive has told staff, “bring back the f— you attitude.”
VF got its start as a glove and mitten factory in 1899 in Reading, Pa. It went public in 1951 and later became a conglomerate of clothing brands, spending billions to swallow Wrangler and Lee jeans among others.
Many of the companies VF owned retained their headquarters—each with a unique identity. Employees skateboarded down the halls of Vans’s offices. At North Face’s headquarters, conference rooms were named for mountains such as Alaska’s Denali peak.
From 2000 through 2016, VF’s revenue more than doubled, while profits more than quadrupled. “Our results demonstrate the strength of VF’s business model,” former VF CEO Eric Wiseman told analysts in 2015.
Things began to change when VF spun off its jeans business in 2019, and moved its corporate headquarters from Greensboro, N.C., to Denver.
For the first time, several brands were brought under one roof, including North Face, JanSport, Eagle Creek and Icebreaker. The goal was to boost innovation and collaboration.
Rather than relocate, employees quit. North Face lost more than three quarters of its staff and had to hire hundreds of people to fill vacancies. A VF spokesman said that while the move to Denver resulted in “meaningful attrition,” it was able to retain key talent.
As the center became more bloated, resources were diverted from the brands, according to a slide deck prepared by the activist investor Engaged Capital, which built a stake in VF. According to Engaged, corporate expenses grew 34% from 2020 to 2023.
Vans was further hamstrung because its parent company relied on its profits to fund other parts of the empire, including smaller labels.
VF tried to impose innovations on its brands that they didn’t always want, and sometimes declined to fund those that the brands deemed important, according to former employees.
It tried to get Vans to make wool sneakers, even though Vans executives said their customers didn’t want them. VF declined to provide more resources for a popular program that allowed Vans customers to design their own shoes, because its other brands weren’t interested in customization.
Darrell’s management philosophy was shaped by childhood trauma.
He grew up in the small town of Owensboro, Ky. On Christmas Eve when he was nine years old, his father left a note on the fireplace mantel telling his family that he was leaving and wouldn’t be coming back.
After his parents divorced, his mother had four car wrecks and a nervous breakdown. Darrell told her to imagine she was on a beach and to draw a line in the sand behind her feet. Everything behind her was the past. She couldn’t change it, but she could learn from it, he told her.
“That’s how I feel at VF,” Darrell said. “The past is something to learn from.”
Over a career in which he revived Old Spice deodorant at Procter & Gamble and steered a turnaround at computer keyboard and webcam maker Logitech, Darrell said he developed a healthy fear of the pitfalls of success. “Once you have it, you start taking fewer risks,” he said.
While at Logitech, which he ran for a decade, he penned a Dr. Seuss-like poem titled “The Secret to Success: Avoid it.”
It reads in part:
“SUCCESS makes you fearful,
Of losing your place,
Of gambling with stature,
Of losing your face.”
Darrell said Vans, which was founded in 1966, had become too reliant on five classic styles that it has sold since its infancy—including the checkerboard slip-ons worn in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” by Sean Penn.
The classics are made much the way they were at inception, by gluing the upper part of the shoe to a flat rubber sole. That method still resonates with the skate crowd, who like the way the shoes grip the boards. But non-skaters complain on websites such as Reddit—where one thread is titled “Don’t your feet hurt after wearing Vans”—about the shoes’ flat footbeds that have little arch support.
Darrell is pushing executives to move faster to churn out new styles that are more in tune with current trends and has examined the designs for every product that Vans plans to introduce over the next three seasons.
Another move is to free up all of VF’s brand presidents from some of the daily minutia so they can spend more time on product innovation. And he’s outlined $300 million in cost cuts, including the elimination of 500 jobs globally, a portion of which will be reinvested into the brands.
So far he has the support of the activists. “Bracken is doing a diligent job in understanding what made VF special for more than 100 years and he’s moving with urgency to fix the damage from the last five years,” said Glenn Welling, Engaged’s founder.
“Vans caught a wave,” Darrell said, referring to the brand’s turbocharged growth of recent decades when everyone from Rihanna to David Beckham was wearing its sneakers. “That’s a dream, but if you’ve misdiagnosed why it grew, it can be a nightmare on the way down.”
Wonderful to know that every shit design and decision in the next three seasons will have been personally signed off on by overlord Darrell
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Vans are hurtin' for sure, all the big players on the surf team havn't been re-signed so i'm sure skate will follow.
No way they wouldn't want to re-sign the Florence bros, but maybe they are negotiating for a lot less.
That's every bad move by people running the show who don't know the culture -- dump the team.
Roxy/Quiksilver are doing it.
Dwindle did it.
It's a never ending cycle.
This is your biggest form of advertising -- your team!
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
If I’m in shorts or gym pants I’m wearing Brooks Glycerins. Jeans or chinos its Lems Trailheads. Apart from a pair of half cabs someone randomly bought me for Christmas I only wear skate shoes to skate and it’s never Vans. Those Rowan 2’s look good but not for $110.
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
If I’m in shorts or gym pants I’m wearing Brooks Glycerins. Jeans or chinos its Lems Trailheads. Apart from a pair of half cabs someone randomly bought me for Christmas I only wear skate shoes to skate and it’s never Vans. Those Rowan 2’s look good but not for $110.
I wear Altras which unfortunately are also owned by VF
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Vans?
how many SLAP posters wear Hokas during the day?
If I’m in shorts or gym pants I’m wearing Brooks Glycerins. Jeans or chinos its Lems Trailheads. Apart from a pair of half cabs someone randomly bought me for Christmas I only wear skate shoes to skate and it’s never Vans. Those Rowan 2’s look good but not for $110.
I wear Altras which unfortunately are also owned by VF
Lol same. I’ll probably be hopping over to Topo next cuz VF is ruining what made Altra unique.
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
I think Vans opening stores that sell skate stuff in close proximity local skateshops (even ones that have accounts with them) might be one of the reasons
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Vans are hurtin' for sure, all the big players on the surf team havn't been re-signed so i'm sure skate will follow.
No way they wouldn't want to re-sign the Florence bros, but maybe they are negotiating for a lot less.
Nathan especially is only growing in popularity with the Slab Tour
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
From what I recall, shops were having some serious problems with their representatives and offloading stock. The zahba being one of the absolute worst launches.
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
Zhaba mid is actually my favorite recent vans in a long time. Sucks that it will likely not get any better colorways and be canned
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Heard they’re canning the era next year. I always thought it was slightly safer version of the authentic.
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Heard they’re canning the era next year. I always thought it was slightly safer version of the authentic.
Bonkers if true. Literally their first pro skate model.
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That would seem crazy to drop the eras. They should go harder with the ears and furthermore, bring back these gems:
(https://di2ponv0v5otw.cloudfront.net/posts/2023/10/17/652ef0577dfcc2c2a77ec2d2/l_652ef0fc02760b8cc0087fff.jpg)
(https://di2ponv0v5otw.cloudfront.net/posts/2024/01/04/659743ac87a2f59b79bb629c/l_659743d5bd062909788ab6af.jpg)
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The only useful information that I have to add to this conversation is that about two years ago I was in the drive thru line at Pepe's in Fullerton behind Steve Van Doren. I knew it was him because I could see his face based on how their drive through is structured. He ordered a breakfast burrito and a root beer.
They have excellent breakfast burritos.
I hope this information helps.
Corporate conglomerates really suck the joy out of the room.
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Reissue the AV6 and it’s all I’ll skate.
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Heard they’re canning the era next year. I always thought it was slightly safer version of the authentic.
I guess the authentic is cheaper to make, and looks similar, but would be a nuts decision. Guarantee deck shoes will come back in as soon as they drop it.
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That would seem crazy to drop the eras. They should go harder with the ears and furthermore, bring back these gems:
(https://di2ponv0v5otw.cloudfront.net/posts/2023/10/17/652ef0577dfcc2c2a77ec2d2/l_652ef0fc02760b8cc0087fff.jpg)
(https://di2ponv0v5otw.cloudfront.net/posts/2024/01/04/659743ac87a2f59b79bb629c/l_659743d5bd062909788ab6af.jpg)
Word - gimme the chukka
But this fool in upper Managment don’t know shit.
Big cooperation is bullshit
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
I'm no business genius, but changing the focus of your skate shoe company to a sport where people don't wear shoes doesn't seem like the smartest play.
Was laughing hard in that one.
This fools in upper management are absolutely clueless
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Heard they’re canning the era next year. I always thought it was slightly safer version of the authentic.
I guess the authentic is cheaper to make, and looks similar, but would be a nuts decision. Guarantee deck shoes will come back in as soon as they drop it.
Having worked at a vans store, customers don’t know the difference
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Heard they’re canning the era next year. I always thought it was slightly safer version of the authentic.
I guess the authentic is cheaper to make, and looks similar, but would be a nuts decision. Guarantee deck shoes will come back in as soon as they drop it.
Having worked at a vans store, customers don’t know the difference
Just think of the $billions they'll save on not putting the little sausage of foam around the collar. They'll be #1 again in no time.
Seriously tho I'll prob be kinda bummed if I can't get normal eras anymore
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I think it might just be the “pro” or “skate” eras er whatever they’re calling them. I’m sure they’ll keep the regular ones around. I heard this from a shop owner.
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I thought vans’ decision-making couldn’t get any dumber than the switch from pro- to skate- in product names and constantly changing the core models for the worse, but here we are.
“Our products have lost their mainstream fashion appeal due to over-saturation and our neglect of the core customers who made us popular made them abandon us…here’s what we gotta do: double down on gimmicky last-season fashion bullshit and cut the skate infrastructure even more. Fuck you attitude!”
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so Darrell isn't bringing back the wrapped tour, but is getting rid of classic models? the fuck you attitude is back 100%, big corporate much like big government is full of too many idiots who think they know best but refuse to look at what has successful in the past
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
Zhaba mid is actually my favorite recent vans in a long time. Sucks that it will likely not get any better colorways and be canned
Agree Zhaba mid is decent shoe. I usually skate Halfcabs- but it’s nice to have a real cupsole and still board feel. Really appreciate feel and fit of the shoe. Colorways - majority at slap will hate me for it- but Beatrice one - was the only acceptable color way.
(Writing the name on the heel was the only weak spot, running around with a Beatrice signature on the heel feels stupid)
If they woud sell the Zhaba mid in proper color ways I woud buy some.
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
Zhaba mid is actually my favorite recent vans in a long time. Sucks that it will likely not get any better colorways and be canned
Agree Zhaba mid is decent shoe. I usually skate Halfcabs- but it’s nice to have a real cupsole and still board feel. Really appreciate feel and fit of the shoe. Colorways - majority at slap will hate me for it- but Beatrice one - was the only acceptable color way.
(Writing the name on the heel was the only weak spot, running around with a Beatrice signature on the heel feels stupid)
If they woud sell the Zhaba mid in proper color ways I woud buy some.
Our shop (Holistic) sold the Beatrice colorway really well (6 sold out of 8 pairs brought in). We might be one of the only shops that did well the release but the Zahba Mid is a solid cupsole shoe. We didn't move any of the Zion Zahba though. Vans does offer the Zahba Mid in Black/White and other color options, but local shops might not book it due to the launch colorways not being as strong. It does retail at $115 though.
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
Zhaba mid is actually my favorite recent vans in a long time. Sucks that it will likely not get any better colorways and be canned
Agree Zhaba mid is decent shoe. I usually skate Halfcabs- but it’s nice to have a real cupsole and still board feel. Really appreciate feel and fit of the shoe. Colorways - majority at slap will hate me for it- but Beatrice one - was the only acceptable color way.
(Writing the name on the heel was the only weak spot, running around with a Beatrice signature on the heel feels stupid)
If they woud sell the Zhaba mid in proper color ways I woud buy some.
Our shop (Holistic) sold the Beatrice colorway really well (6 sold out of 8 pairs brought in). We might be one of the only shops that did well the release but the Zahba Mid is a solid cupsole shoe. We didn't move any of the Zion Zahba though. Vans does offer the Zahba Mid in Black/White and other color options, but local shops might not book it due to the launch colorways not being as strong. It does retail at $115 though.
I do not know anything about the success of the launch.
I think the majority of the skateboarders didn’t gave a fuck about a product launch - this is some marketing phantasy.
bought the Beatrice twice - because I like the color.
But use it only for skating - mostly in my local skatehall. Without the Beatrice Signatur I woud use it for walking around too.
The black and white one had the stupid looking two colored stripes black with white/grey and white with white /red stripe - and three different kind of white / grayish. Thought about it buy it but it looks silly.
Prices - yes they are expansive- but I am not that worried about it. Have some „friends and family“ deal from my local shop and reasonable income - so for me the prices are ok. Compared to my wife and kids my skateboarding is the cheapest „hobby/ sport“ anyway.
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so Darrell isn't bringing back the wrapped tour, but is getting rid of classic models? the fuck you attitude is back 100%, big corporate much like big government is full of too many idiots who think they know best but refuse to look at what has successful in the past
once FRONZILLA stops running for president he'll get back to work on the warped tour. then vans will be relevant again with the foil shirt crowd
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Heard they’re canning the era next year. I always thought it was slightly safer version of the authentic.
I always liked the eras more than the authentics. That little ankle stitch always made the shoe look more complete to me.
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When Darrell says he wants to bring back that “fuck you attitude,” what he means is “fuck you, skateboarders: we’re a fashion brand first & foremost.”
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y'all hear the new AVE shoe gonna be $130?
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Heard they’re canning the era next year. I always thought it was slightly safer version of the authentic.
I always liked the eras more than the authentics. That little ankle stitch always made the shoe look more complete to me.
Insane if true
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I think it might just be the “pro” or “skate” eras er whatever they’re calling them. I’m sure they’ll keep the regular ones around. I heard this from a shop owner.
This must be the case because canning og Era model would be a lunatic business move. Think about all tattoo artists, motorists, record shop employees, middle class punks…
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Skate Eras were torture devices for feet
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Skate Eras were torture devices for feet
Yup, I had a pair on a trip to Miami years ago and they ate up my achilles like a dog chewing a bone. Bloody socks everyday I wore them.
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Skate Eras were torture devices for feet
Yup, I had a pair on a trip to Miami years ago and they ate up my achilles like a dog chewing a bone. Bloody socks everyday I wore them.
Had same issue with a pair at first and then they molded perfectly to my foot after days of blisters.
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Skate Eras were torture devices for feet
Yup, I had a pair on a trip to Miami years ago and they ate up my achilles like a dog chewing a bone. Bloody socks everyday I wore them.
I had the same painful experience at the first day in my new pair of Old School Skate. I never had any problems with Pro models.
After that I tried Last Resorts for the first time and they felt like heaven compared to Skates. Don’t get me wrong LRAB’s (especially the first models) are far from perfect.
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Do the Zhaba mids fit without much arch support like the Vans vulcs? I'm after a cup for a flat foot, but NBs arch is killin' me in these 440s. Fuck it, might throw Beatrice some coin if they're a flat footed cup that feels like a more structurally sound half cab.
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Do the Zhaba mids fit without much arch support like the Vans vulcs? I'm after a cup for a flat foot, but NBs arch is killin' me in these 440s. Fuck it, might throw Beatrice some coin if they're a flat footed cup that feels like a more structurally sound half cab.
440s are flat
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I'm a big fan of Vans. Matter of fact, I actually interviewed there in 2016 while I was at Nike SB. I was told by the hiring manager (who I had more professional experience than) to "not talk about skateboarding so much." Couldn't believe what I heard, but not shocked at their demise these days. Buch of surf turkeys we're running the show back then, hopefully they empower some skaters soon before it's too late. Shops are NOT hyped on Vans rn.
How come?
Zhaba mid is actually my favorite recent vans in a long time. Sucks that it will likely not get any better colorways and be canned
Agree Zhaba mid is decent shoe. I usually skate Halfcabs- but it’s nice to have a real cupsole and still board feel. Really appreciate feel and fit of the shoe. Colorways - majority at slap will hate me for it- but Beatrice one - was the only acceptable color way.
(Writing the name on the heel was the only weak spot, running around with a Beatrice signature on the heel feels stupid)
If they woud sell the Zhaba mid in proper color ways I woud buy some.
Our shop (Holistic) sold the Beatrice colorway really well (6 sold out of 8 pairs brought in). We might be one of the only shops that did well the release but the Zahba Mid is a solid cupsole shoe. We didn't move any of the Zion Zahba though. Vans does offer the Zahba Mid in Black/White and other color options, but local shops might not book it due to the launch colorways not being as strong. It does retail at $115 though.
I do not know anything about the success of the launch.
I think the majority of the skateboarders didn’t gave a fuck about a product launch - this is some marketing phantasy.
bought the Beatrice twice - because I like the color.
But use it only for skating - mostly in my local skatehall. Without the Beatrice Signatur I woud use it for walking around too.
The black and white one had the stupid looking two colored stripes black with white/grey and white with white /red stripe - and three different kind of white / grayish. Thought about it buy it but it looks silly.
Prices - yes they are expansive- but I am not that worried about it. Have some „friends and family“ deal from my local shop and reasonable income - so for me the prices are ok. Compared to my wife and kids my skateboarding is the cheapest „hobby/ sport“ anyway.
I own a skateshop and we couldn't give the Beatrice Zahba mid away. Pretty sure we sold zero and sent them back.
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I dont feel like making a new thread about it, taylor kirby ist skating blazers on ig.
Fit so well on Vans
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I dont feel like making a new thread about it, taylor kirby ist skating blazers on ig.
Fit so well on Vans
Insane how vans just let's every good one go
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With him being friends with Elijah, Rowan, and the new tm I’m guessing this is a case of too good a deal to pass up.
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I dont feel like making a new thread about it, taylor kirby ist skating blazers on ig.
Fit so well on Vans
i went through like 4 crockett hi's in a row because i prefer skating high tops, thought they looked cool, and thought blazers and vans skate hi's were more or less the same shoe anyway
then i got some blazers on sale and they are just superior in every single way
and now most of vans models are same price or even more expensive than blazers these days, can't really see switching back
unless they make the rowans in mid or high tops
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Kirbys not skating blazers. They are Lizzies model.
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I don’t know if you missed the story, but they were clearly grey blazers with black swoosh
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https://www.instagram.com/stories/tayl0rkirby/3308114717094880803/?hl=en
Kirby pretty clearly skating blazers on story
of Vans it seems
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I dont hate Kirby.....but its a pretty easy decision not to re sign him imho...seemed like a non entity on Vans
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I dont hate Kirby.....but its a pretty easy decision not to re sign him imho...seemed like a non entity on Vans
Ehhh there plenty of the non entity type on vans still. Kirby consistently puts out footage and reps his sponsors . This is probably contract renewals negotiations goin south and they both cut their losses. If he was gonna get cut it would’ve been January 1st.
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y'all hear the new AVE shoe gonna be $130?
Ridiculous.
1st of all $130 for a pair of Vans
&
2nd how the fuck is AVE commanding $130 for a pair of shoes?
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y'all hear the new AVE shoe gonna be $130?
Ridiculous.
1st of all $130 for a pair of Vans
&
2nd how the fuck is AVE commanding $130 for a pair of shoes?
probably got jealous of not being on DC to reissue his shoes and decided to steal their price point. problem is that people will actually buy a pair of shoes because Kalis has his name on the shoe, nobody gives a shit nowadays about AVE. Vans is extremely desperate right now, probably think the skaters can run that division better.
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I’m a huge AVE fan but I’m not spending $130 on his shoes. I liked skating in the AVE Pro but even at $100 when they first debuted seemed really high. You could find them on clearance pretty often. They skate great but they don’t last the longest. I’ve been wanting to try the Rowan 2’s, even those seemed to go on sale shortly after launching at $120.
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Not only am I never paying $130 for skate shoes, I don't think I will ever again buy a pair of skate shoes which are not deeply discounted. And I'm a huge fan of the AVEs (mostly indifferent to AVE himself).
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probably got jealous of not being on DC to reissue his shoes and decided to steal their price point.
nobody gives a shit nowadays about AVE.
The shoes are way too expensive but these are both crazy fried takes.
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probably got jealous of not being on DC to reissue his shoes and decided to steal their price point.
nobody gives a shit nowadays about AVE.
The shoes are way too expensive but these are both crazy fried takes.
Only company getting away with $130 shoes is DC. People aren't dying to have his shoe, he's a great skater but he's not even the most relevant person on his own brand.
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i give more of a shit about AVE in 2024 than i ever have about josh kalis
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i give more of a shit about AVE in 2024 than i ever have about josh kalis
Yeah but you don't like Kalis to begin with, so that's kinda irrelevant. I don't like either, but I can see Kalis's appeal as the guy who pioneered his image as the baggy ass pants and big shoes.
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Came in here to say I really wanna try AVEs next as they seem sick and i'm trying to find my cupsole. Vans vulcs are still the best feeling shoe, but a bit hard on the feet, so maybe the AVEs are the golden ticket.
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Came in here to say I really wanna try AVEs next as they seem sick and i'm trying to find my cupsole. Vans vulcs are still the best feeling shoe, but a bit hard on the feet, so maybe the AVEs are the golden ticket.
I’d recommend them. Good board feel and not bulky. Nice intro to a cupsole from a Vans vulc.
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Came in here to say I really wanna try AVEs next as they seem sick and i'm trying to find my cupsole. Vans vulcs are still the best feeling shoe, but a bit hard on the feet, so maybe the AVEs are the golden ticket.
I’d recommend them. Good board feel and not bulky. Nice intro to a cupsole from a Vans vulc.
Tried the NB 440s and the arch was too brutal, the CM001 last resorts are going well, but keen on trying the Aves. Like how they look now, where as I didn't before. They're not discontinued are they? Can't really see them around, but did see Beatrice AVEs which is weird as heck.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCgNkJrH6wuMH59F-6P0yhP4nXQ9vgclyNOiWM2wV5K6fLHOFpz8i6MFuFhFDdVF9jptIVsWZG8EMvnq5KOYBXasc_9S3w-A&usqp=CAY)
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i give more of a shit about AVE in 2024 than i ever have about josh kalis
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Came in here to say I really wanna try AVEs next as they seem sick and i'm trying to find my cupsole. Vans vulcs are still the best feeling shoe, but a bit hard on the feet, so maybe the AVEs are the golden ticket.
I’d recommend them. Good board feel and not bulky. Nice intro to a cupsole from a Vans vulc.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCgNkJrH6wuMH59F-6P0yhP4nXQ9vgclyNOiWM2wV5K6fLHOFpz8i6MFuFhFDdVF9jptIVsWZG8EMvnq5KOYBXasc_9S3w-A&usqp=CAY)
They’re still available on Vans website and various shops. I went to the Vans store inside the mall a few weeks ago and they didn’t have any on the wall. They used to carry every current colorway. So they may be phased out especially if he has a new shoe dropping. I actually saw a pair at Ross a few weeks ago too. Only $35.
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S&P: VF Will Need to Sell “Sizeable” Brands to Ease Debt Burden (https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/02/sp-vf-will-need-to-sell-sizeable-brands-to-ease-debt-burden/)
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Ive been skating the Vans Aves (the last model think).
(https://i.ibb.co/3SN0J6V/IMG-8583.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3SN0J6V)
Feel great but the inside of the shoe ripped like instantly and has a 2 finger hole in the mesh. Im not talking the bottom or where the ollie spots are. Ive never had a shoe bust there. Basically part of the shoe is just breathable mesh which is great, but having it rip with nothing under it immediately is crazy. That said, I won't lie they are really fun to skate. But again, I've never had shoes with holes in them on the inside of my front foot (huge rips really as seen above) and it was pretty unpleasant during the winter months. I paid full price (was limited to Vans due to it being a birthday present from family where I was brought to vans store) and for full price they fell apart way too quickly in my opinion. Oddly, still skate able though. So I'm neutral, but I've gotten more life out of New Balances I've gotten on sale for 30 dollars by a huge margin, so not sure I'd do it again ha.
I have a huge soft spot for vans as I couldn't afford the "nicer" skate shoes as a kid, but wow. The ollie patch where I normally get my first hole in shoes is barely worn, so it is a bit confusing.
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S&P: VF Will Need to Sell “Sizeable” Brands to Ease Debt Burden (https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/02/sp-vf-will-need-to-sell-sizeable-brands-to-ease-debt-burden/)
This is going to be rich when they offload Supreme to some lesser investment group and it ends up at Kohls
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copping box logos with kohl’s cash would be so awesome
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If I'm dropping $130 on shoes to skate in, it'd be for AJ1-5’s or some AF1 hi’s.
Vans has always been a discount brokerage.
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S&P: VF Will Need to Sell “Sizeable” Brands to Ease Debt Burden (https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/02/sp-vf-will-need-to-sell-sizeable-brands-to-ease-debt-burden/)
God you're right. They paid $2b for that shit not even four years ago, and it's gonna be a favorite for Maxxinistas in another year or two. Hilarious. At least the Saudis will lose money.
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The Supreme deal was insane. They also sold Nautica to Authentic Brands, and spun off Lee, Wrangler and their outlet business to a company called Kontoor brands (which also stayed in North Carolina), and lastly sold all of their workwear lines aside from Dickies around the same time (I'm blending a few years together). Not to say those were cutting edge brands, but are brands people buy at reasonable prices that are relatively stable during economic downturns. VF Corp itself went after high growth through acquisition versus their historic slow and steady value stock/dividend style around that time as well, with Supreme being the most ridiculous example.
But yeah-- VF Corp bought Vans in 2004 for around 400 million and Supreme for roughly 2.1B. Arguably wrangler is cooler than Supreme, so may have been a mistake.
This is not investment advice, but yeah they seem to have made a few mistakes. Kontoor stock has done much better since the spin off riding on that jean money without owning skateparks or trying to sell people gimmick shoes/t shirts for hundreds of dollars.
Full disclosure-- I'm hoping for VF Corp to pull it together-- still enjoy vans and dickies output skate video wise, as well as North Face, Timberlands and some of their other offerings.
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The Supreme deal was insane.
Honestly up there with Yahoo paying the same amount for Tumblr, only to sell it for $3m. Or Musk overpaying for Twitter by several orders of magnitude.
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i give more of a shit about AVE in 2024 than i ever have about josh kalis
100%
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Ive been skating the Vans Aves (the last model think).
(https://i.ibb.co/3SN0J6V/IMG-8583.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3SN0J6V)
Feel great but the inside of the shoe ripped like instantly and has a 2 finger hole in the mesh. Im not talking the bottom or where the ollie spots are. Ive never had a shoe bust there. Basically part of the shoe is just breathable mesh which is great, but having it rip with nothing under it immediately is crazy. That said, I won't lie they are really fun to skate. But again, I've never had shoes with holes in them on the inside of my front foot (huge rips really as seen above) and it was pretty unpleasant during the winter months. I paid full price (was limited to Vans due to it being a birthday present from family where I was brought to vans store) and for full price they fell apart way too quickly in my opinion. Oddly, still skate able though. So I'm neutral, but I've gotten more life out of New Balances I've gotten on sale for 30 dollars by a huge margin, so not sure I'd do it again ha.
I have a huge soft spot for vans as I couldn't afford the "nicer" skate shoes as a kid, but wow. The ollie patch where I normally get my first hole in shoes is barely worn, so it is a bit confusing.
This is nuts. I'd email them about a defect.
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Ive been skating the Vans Aves (the last model think).
(https://i.ibb.co/3SN0J6V/IMG-8583.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3SN0J6V)
Feel great but the inside of the shoe ripped like instantly and has a 2 finger hole in the mesh. Im not talking the bottom or where the ollie spots are. Ive never had a shoe bust there. Basically part of the shoe is just breathable mesh which is great, but having it rip with nothing under it immediately is crazy. That said, I won't lie they are really fun to skate. But again, I've never had shoes with holes in them on the inside of my front foot (huge rips really as seen above) and it was pretty unpleasant during the winter months. I paid full price (was limited to Vans due to it being a birthday present from family where I was brought to vans store) and for full price they fell apart way too quickly in my opinion. Oddly, still skate able though. So I'm neutral, but I've gotten more life out of New Balances I've gotten on sale for 30 dollars by a huge margin, so not sure I'd do it again ha.
I have a huge soft spot for vans as I couldn't afford the "nicer" skate shoes as a kid, but wow. The ollie patch where I normally get my first hole in shoes is barely worn, so it is a bit confusing.
This is nuts. I'd email them about a defect.
Especially since they’ve lost that fuck you attitude.
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
What most forget is certain people move product easily, others would be a gamble.
AVE has been consistent his whole career, Austyn isn’t going to save Globe, there’s no doubt he rips but must be a pain in the ass to deal with for no other credible brand to grab him
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it could also be because it was a totally different time.....
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AVE is really popular with the kids these days.
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
What most forget is certain people move product easily, others would be a gamble.
AVE has been consistent his whole career, Austyn isn’t going to save Globe, there’s no doubt he rips but must be a pain in the ass to deal with for no other credible brand to grab him
what you mean by AVE being consistent his whole career?
shoe sales wise?
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
AVE’s dancing on thin ice part is more memorable than anything Austyn has done in recent years
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What’s with the AVE and Kalis shade? Those guys are both unfuckwithable in my opinion. Solid skating and video parts over the last 25 + years. No bullshit or gimmicks over the years, they pretty much stayed the same. Give them both a shoe forever.
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https://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SP24_OTW_VN000CNBBKA_HalfCabReissue33Vibram_BlackBlack_Efron_2115-1536x1152-1.jpg
"Goodbye Vans It’s Been A Great Roll"
This new Vibram soled “Half Cab Reissue 33’ shoe” that Vans has dropped is the latest sad attempt to correct the brand’s sales freefall. It’s called OTW by Vans and it is an attempt by VF Corp to force the Vans brand back into mainstream fashion relevance. Apparently, it can all be blamed on this guy:
Ian Ginoza, VP of Creative Direction for OTW by Vans, said: “OTW by Vans is a frontier for progression, experiences and collaboration. The skateboarding mindset is core to Vans, and OTW enriches that spirit through a distinct perspective to propel culture forward.”
If anyone can pull it off Ginoza can. He has deep roots in sneakers and culture marketing, however using a tag like “skateboarding mindset” as sales euphemism for “not skateboarding” has never ended well. Read the whole piece if you’d like. And if these become Vans best selling shoes ever, we will apologize. Promise.
https://www.boardistan.com/?p=65251
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https://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SP24_OTW_VN000CNBBKA_HalfCabReissue33Vibram_BlackBlack_Efron_2115-1536x1152-1.jpg
"Goodbye Vans It’s Been A Great Roll"
This new Vibram soled “Half Cab Reissue 33’ shoe” that Vans has dropped is the latest sad attempt to correct the brand’s sales freefall. It’s called OTW by Vans and it is an attempt by VF Corp to force the Vans brand back into mainstream fashion relevance. Apparently, it can all be blamed on this guy:
Ian Ginoza, VP of Creative Direction for OTW by Vans, said: “OTW by Vans is a frontier for progression, experiences and collaboration. The skateboarding mindset is core to Vans, and OTW enriches that spirit through a distinct perspective to propel culture forward.”
If anyone can pull it off Ginoza can. He has deep roots in sneakers and culture marketing, however using a tag like “skateboarding mindset” as sales euphemism for “not skateboarding” has never ended well. Read the whole piece if you’d like. And if these become Vans best selling shoes ever, we will apologize. Promise.
https://www.boardistan.com/?p=65251
100% not going to work but those are probably the comfiest Vans ever made.
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Vans will do anything but make a cupsole half cab
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Vans will do anything but make a cupsole half cab
rightfully so. what the fuck would that even be/look like
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https://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SP24_OTW_VN000CNBBKA_HalfCabReissue33Vibram_BlackBlack_Efron_2115-1536x1152-1.jpg
"Goodbye Vans It’s Been A Great Roll"
This new Vibram soled “Half Cab Reissue 33’ shoe” that Vans has dropped is the latest sad attempt to correct the brand’s sales freefall. It’s called OTW by Vans and it is an attempt by VF Corp to force the Vans brand back into mainstream fashion relevance. Apparently, it can all be blamed on this guy:
Ian Ginoza, VP of Creative Direction for OTW by Vans, said: “OTW by Vans is a frontier for progression, experiences and collaboration. The skateboarding mindset is core to Vans, and OTW enriches that spirit through a distinct perspective to propel culture forward.”
If anyone can pull it off Ginoza can. He has deep roots in sneakers and culture marketing, however using a tag like “skateboarding mindset” as sales euphemism for “not skateboarding” has never ended well. Read the whole piece if you’d like. And if these become Vans best selling shoes ever, we will apologize. Promise.
https://www.boardistan.com/?p=65251
Those are absolutely fucked. The idea of an actual vibram soled skate shoe is good though. Outside of skateboarding, I don't buy shoes unless they're vibram soled. Nothing compares. Hard rubber, yet grippy and incredibly durable.
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(https://data.glamood.com/imgprodotto/chuck-taylor-all-star-cotton-high-top-sneakers-with-track-sole_1156215_zoom.jpg)
I know those shoes are trash but gotta remember normies love those chuck taylor runs.
I could see that OTW like being popular with gentrifiers or people into ceramics etc
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
yea? how many kickstarter campaigns did “AVE” in “Dancing on Thin Ice” start?
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https://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SP24_OTW_VN000CNBBKA_HalfCabReissue33Vibram_BlackBlack_Efron_2115-1536x1152-1.jpg
"Goodbye Vans It’s Been A Great Roll"
This new Vibram soled “Half Cab Reissue 33’ shoe” that Vans has dropped is the latest sad attempt to correct the brand’s sales freefall. It’s called OTW by Vans and it is an attempt by VF Corp to force the Vans brand back into mainstream fashion relevance. Apparently, it can all be blamed on this guy:
Ian Ginoza, VP of Creative Direction for OTW by Vans, said: “OTW by Vans is a frontier for progression, experiences and collaboration. The skateboarding mindset is core to Vans, and OTW enriches that spirit through a distinct perspective to propel culture forward.”
If anyone can pull it off Ginoza can. He has deep roots in sneakers and culture marketing, however using a tag like “skateboarding mindset” as sales euphemism for “not skateboarding” has never ended well. Read the whole piece if you’d like. And if these become Vans best selling shoes ever, we will apologize. Promise.
https://www.boardistan.com/?p=65251
Those are absolutely fucked. The idea of an actual vibram soled skate shoe is good though. Outside of skateboarding, I don't buy shoes unless they're vibram soled. Nothing compares. Hard rubber, yet grippy and incredibly durable.
iPath did it
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https://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SP24_OTW_VN000CNBBKA_HalfCabReissue33Vibram_BlackBlack_Efron_2115-1536x1152-1.jpg
"Goodbye Vans It’s Been A Great Roll"
This new Vibram soled “Half Cab Reissue 33’ shoe” that Vans has dropped is the latest sad attempt to correct the brand’s sales freefall. It’s called OTW by Vans and it is an attempt by VF Corp to force the Vans brand back into mainstream fashion relevance. Apparently, it can all be blamed on this guy:
Ian Ginoza, VP of Creative Direction for OTW by Vans, said: “OTW by Vans is a frontier for progression, experiences and collaboration. The skateboarding mindset is core to Vans, and OTW enriches that spirit through a distinct perspective to propel culture forward.”
If anyone can pull it off Ginoza can. He has deep roots in sneakers and culture marketing, however using a tag like “skateboarding mindset” as sales euphemism for “not skateboarding” has never ended well. Read the whole piece if you’d like. And if these become Vans best selling shoes ever, we will apologize. Promise.
https://www.boardistan.com/?p=65251
I get down on myself about my self-worth and the job market sometimes, but then I remember how many downright vapid waste-of-space dumbasses are able to bullshit themselves into positions of power at major corporations every day and then I don't feel so bad.
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
You can just say you don’t pay attention to Austyn because he’s put out a part a year for roughly the last five years.
Here’s a start:
http://youtu.be/LjjAPcW8fCY?si=2uO9cDGOc5gqO633
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
You can just say you don’t pay attention to Austyn because he’s put out a part a year for roughly the last five years.
Here’s a start:
http://youtu.be/LjjAPcW8fCY?si=2uO9cDGOc5gqO633
Whether he puts out footage or not was not their point. The point is - was any of Austyn's footage memorable compared to AVE's?
I have no stake in comparing because I've watched and enjoyed skating from both dudes in the last 10 years
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
You can just say you don’t pay attention to Austyn because he’s put out a part a year for roughly the last five years.
Here’s a start:
http://youtu.be/LjjAPcW8fCY?si=2uO9cDGOc5gqO633
Whether he puts out footage or not was not their point. The point is - was any of Austyn's footage memorable compared to AVE's?
I have no stake in comparing because I've watched and enjoyed skating from both dudes in the last 10 years
that’s what i was getting at, I pay attention to Austyn but his skating hasn’t done anything for me like AVE’s has. I still have AVE’s part on repeat, there’s like maybe 2 tricks I like from Austyns most recent part.
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(https://data.glamood.com/imgprodotto/chuck-taylor-all-star-cotton-high-top-sneakers-with-track-sole_1156215_zoom.jpg)
I know those shoes are trash but gotta remember normies love those chuck taylor runs.
I could see that OTW like being popular with gentrifiers or people into ceramics etc
I think OTW is just a renaming of Vans Vault which seems to be same structure of I guess limited colorways and redesigns of classics I don’t mind it if you aren’t skating and want to wear Vans but also want a shoe with actual cushion this seems to fit that void I think Vans misses out where Nike and other big brands have non skate models that everyone wears air max etc
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Vans OTW was around before Vault. I think it was more athletic shoes? There were a few years where Vans had a "skate inspired" line that was cupsoles but not official skate shoes and I'm pretty sure they were called OTW and they were basically all Flo Marfaing would skate from them. And then OTWs became like their high end / dressier line and Alex Olson would skate them a bunch and they tried to use those as a starting point for the Versa and Alex's pro model, but it didn't go anywhere.
https://www.villagepsychic.net/blog/vans-neal-shoemaker
https://www.nicekicks.com/vans-otw-howell-and-pritchard/
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https://www.boardistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SP24_OTW_VN000CNBBKA_HalfCabReissue33Vibram_BlackBlack_Efron_2115-1536x1152-1.jpg
"Goodbye Vans It’s Been A Great Roll"
This new Vibram soled “Half Cab Reissue 33’ shoe” that Vans has dropped is the latest sad attempt to correct the brand’s sales freefall. It’s called OTW by Vans and it is an attempt by VF Corp to force the Vans brand back into mainstream fashion relevance. Apparently, it can all be blamed on this guy:
Ian Ginoza, VP of Creative Direction for OTW by Vans, said: “OTW by Vans is a frontier for progression, experiences and collaboration. The skateboarding mindset is core to Vans, and OTW enriches that spirit through a distinct perspective to propel culture forward.”
If anyone can pull it off Ginoza can. He has deep roots in sneakers and culture marketing, however using a tag like “skateboarding mindset” as sales euphemism for “not skateboarding” has never ended well. Read the whole piece if you’d like. And if these become Vans best selling shoes ever, we will apologize. Promise.
https://www.boardistan.com/?p=65251
I get down on myself about my self-worth and the job market sometimes, but then I remember how many downright vapid waste-of-space dumbasses are able to bullshit themselves into positions of power at major corporations every day and then I don't feel so bad.
however using a tag like “skateboarding mindset” as sales euphemism for “not skateboarding” has never ended well.
there is know one left at Vans with a PLAN.
get the fuck out of that stupid "skateboard Mindset nonesense"
GO Skating instead - and making classic /basic skateshoes with no gimicks.
Just proper qualilty, good materials and eye pleasing color ways.
So they will not grow forever - but will have a solid market share.
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AVE still has a pro model but they wouldn't give Gylette in his prime one ...
You can just say you don’t pay attention to Austyn because he’s put out a part a year for roughly the last five years.
Here’s a start:
http://youtu.be/LjjAPcW8fCY?si=2uO9cDGOc5gqO633
Whether he puts out footage or not was not their point. The point is - was any of Austyn's footage memorable compared to AVE's?
I have no stake in comparing because I've watched and enjoyed skating from both dudes in the last 10 years
Understood.
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Vans will do anything but make a cupsole half cab
Slightly derpy just like all of the other BMX versions of Vans classics with the Wafflecup sole.
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Vans will do anything but make a cupsole half cab
probably really similar to the Rowan 2
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https://www.instagram.com/stories/therealdustindollin/3312386061392335922?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MWQ5OXkwZWIzNjRkcA==
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C337yI4rJOe/?igsh=NTJhdjJ0YWpucGNk
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C337yI4rJOe/?igsh=NTJhdjJ0YWpucGNk
Weird this guy keeps coming up but my first job in LA was making frames for the artist who designed that skateable structure. That dude was selling everything, every show. Also randomly stumbled across a shout-out to him in Matt Reason's TWS Spotlight a few years back. I have never met him personally lol
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Vans will do anything but make a cupsole half cab
probably really similar to the Rowan 2
I had some Crockett mids that I’m pretty sure we’re wafflecups. Really close to a cupsole cab.
Van’s has been played since early 2020: I was in Uptown MPLS the first weekend it was nice enough to not be boot weather and 8/10 people were wearing Vans. Cool locals, kids in from the burbs, babies, everybody’s mom, scruffy aging bachelors from rural Wisconsin, EVERYBODY. I knew it was the peak. Sneakers go in trends. You’d think these big money, big brain types would see this, but the wave crests and there’s talk of a brand somehow fucking up. Fucking up is paying 2B for Supreme. Fucking up is buying a brand that’s gotten hot and expecting unreasonable, unrealistic and completely unsustainable growth in perpetuity. Or it’s the reality of capitalism, the big money knew it all along. The first rule is never gamble with your own money.
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https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/burnout/off-the-giant-orange-wall/
This is apparently part of the plan. What are we looking at here exactly?
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I can't read the full article but if VF is happy with Supreme's current sales then they might not be one of the brands they're looking to sell off.................or they're playing a game of "the brand is doing great" in order to sell off.
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/02/supreme-a-bright-spot-in-tough-quarter-for-vf/
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I remember seeing Palace "firing shots" at Vans in their recent lookbook/preview descriptions and someone mentioned it's because Vans took their collab silhouette from last year and is continuing to produce it. However, I see in the description that is mentions Danny Brady & Rory Milanes' + Palace further. So what is the real scoop? Are Palace and Vans beefing or is it just friendly banter? Or is Vans continuing to use Danny & Rory's names as they produce them as to "not take all the credit"? Maybe I'm missing something or just tripping.
https://skateparkoftampa.com/spot/p.aspx?ID=96143&mc_cid=9a92caa134&mc_eid=4b6e945dcc
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They're not for sale on the Vans site.
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Palace likes to make JOKES.
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Palace likes to make JOKES.
Yes but previously they had the Vans in their range previews and it was sort of announced as they would be available every season, similar to how Supreme constantly stocks Hanes collab products. This season there is no Vans listed in the preview. I know it's speculation but I was tying it back to my initial point about the silhouette jacking.
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Palace likes to make JOKES.
Yes but previously they had the Vans in their range previews and it was sort of announced as they would be available every season, similar to how Supreme constantly stocks Hanes collab products. This season there is no Vans listed in the preview. I know it's speculation but I was tying it back to my initial point about the silhouette jacking.
What is the deal with the MC design? I’m guessing palace just combining the patterns of the Carroll with the halfcab doesn’t make it their design? Vans still owns it?
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C337yI4rJOe/?igsh=NTJhdjJ0YWpucGNk
Rowan Zorilla as Paul Atreides in Dune: Part 2 (2024)
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The latest Thrasher confirms they kicked off Taylor Kirby and Tanner Van Vark, but added someone new. Anyone know who?
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that big yellow otw thing was a waste of money.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C337yI4rJOe/?igsh=NTJhdjJ0YWpucGNk
this looks like one of those aim_ maps from counter-strike source
(https://static2.cs-bg.net/maps/images/screenshots/mapssource/aim/css-1667-aim_ag_texture2.jpg)
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The latest Thrasher confirms they kicked off Taylor Kirby and Tanner Van Vark, but added someone new. Anyone know who?
They kicked off TVV? Why? He made Kyle Walker’s second shoe look good and he’s always killing it.
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these are the vons plons
(https://i.ibb.co/m58v8wk/IMG-2634.jpg)
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these are the vons plons
(https://i.ibb.co/m58v8wk/IMG-2634.jpg)
I might get these. When do they come out?
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C4tO9gAgjQr/?igsh=a3djZXhhcmxlb3k5
Atiba Jefferson is the new Brand Curator at Vans.
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TVV of so Atiba could get on? Power Moves!!!
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these are the vons plons
(https://i.ibb.co/m58v8wk/IMG-2634.jpg)
I might get these. When do they come out?
They drop on the 28th, currently skating a pair.
My first thoughts:
-when I first put them on the upper was pretty uncomfortable around the toe box (maybe that's just my foot). Pretty thin and you can feel some seams/venting. As you wear them they work in a bit and that goes away.
-the sole is probably the best (in a high tech way) sole Vans has ever made. Firm and high shock absorbing.
-really pointy toe (seems like all the new Vans have this Zahbas, Rowans, etc...) I know lots of people love the pointy toe to me it feels a little step away from the Vans DNA always, I'd love an authentic shape toe on something like this.
-narrow in the arch of the foot but widens a lot in the toe box, I have a slim foot and it fits perfectly in the arch and is a little wide for me in the toe (nothing major), so I'd be interested to see what someone with a wide foot thinks of them.
-incredibly lightweight
-super breathable
-fits really close the foot, kinda like the Koston 3 where you feel like the shoe is an extension of your footy, which is rad.
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What the fuck is a brand curator
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damn that's a really old model, like that supreme collab came out 16 years ago
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C4tO9gAgjQr/?igsh=a3djZXhhcmxlb3k5
Atiba Jefferson is the new Brand Curator at Vans.
Damn vans is fucking up. Guess it could be worse
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What the fuck is a brand curator
For real. Like is this just a fancy label for team manager?
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When I think of Vans, the first person that comes to mind is Atiba.
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Where was Atiba on January 6th?
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Is Atibas dad Robert Skateboarding or something?
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Interesting
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Is Atibas dad Robert Skateboarding or something?
I’m not even sure I get this but it is hilarious
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What the fuck is a brand curator
For real. Like is this just a fancy label for team manager?
No. He'll be curating ranges, helping design shoes and matching apparel lines, working on who to collab with, be it other brands, stores or events etc etc.
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What the fuck is a brand curator
For real. Like is this just a fancy label for team manager?
No. He'll be curating ranges, helping design shoes and matching apparel lines, working on who to collab with, be it other brands, stores or events etc etc.
In VFcorp speak his job is to bring back the "fuck you attitude".
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What the fuck is a brand curator
For real. Like is this just a fancy label for team manager?
No. He'll be curating ranges, helping design shoes and matching apparel lines, working on who to collab with, be it other brands, stores or events etc etc.
In VFcorp speak his job is to bring back the "fuck you attitude".
Basically. Especially how they laid off people who actually knew the industry a couple of years ago in that huge layoff.
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sorryforcurating
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Reading this thread made me want to buy a pair of globes, then I saw that the gilette is $110 on the globe website. I don't feel all that excited about any of the shoe brands on the market right now if I'm being honest.
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Apparently Vans plans are to combat sagging sales by keeping skate sneakers overpriced. Grosso mids are 95 dollars. Half cabs are up there, too.
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When I think of Vans, the first person that comes to mind is Atiba.
it kind of makes sense when you consider how much supreme he wears
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This thread is making me realise I have absolutely no pair of shoes to skate in comfortably. I mean I have a pair of slip on Supra Cubans but they are basically house slippers.
Last pair of vans classics I bought ripped after a few months of wearing to work / chill so I’ve been put off paying their prices.
I really just want a few pairs of Janoskis that dont cost £95-115.
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Apparently Vans plans are to combat sagging sales by keeping skate sneakers overpriced. Grosso mids are 95 dollars. Half cabs are up there, too.
Half cabs are like $80
I haven’t skated a pair of half cabs in years (if ever) but the quality of recent Vans I’ve tried makes me think that that’s too much.
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Apparently Vans plans are to combat sagging sales by keeping skate sneakers overpriced. Grosso mids are 95 dollars. Half cabs are up there, too.
Half cabs are like $80
$85-$100 depending on materials/version
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
I don’t get keeping Kyle Walker over him, but TVV has that bland ripper status that makes me think he’ll end up in Adidas
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C4tO9gAgjQr/?igsh=a3djZXhhcmxlb3k5
Atiba Jefferson is the new Brand Curator at Vans.
Incoming turnstile x carpet collab
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When I think of Vans, the first person that comes to mind is Atiba.
gonna lie, me too
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Lmao I don’t think I’ve ever seen Atiba wear vans, yeah that’s the right move.
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
I don’t get keeping Kyle Walker over him, but TVV has that bland ripper status that makes me think he’ll end up in Adidas
He does a lot of non-bland pretzel tricks though. I think he’s interesting. He deserves a good shoe sponsor.
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
I don’t get keeping Kyle Walker over him, but TVV has that bland ripper status that makes me think he’ll end up in Adidas
you’d keep tanner over the SOTY with a wildly popular pro shoe among non-skaters?
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TVV has great trick selection, but as said above bland, would be good fit on NB or Adidas
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Apparently Vans plans are to combat sagging sales by keeping skate sneakers overpriced. Grosso mids are 95 dollars. Half cabs are up there, too.
Half cabs are like $80
$85-$100 depending on materials/version
I definitely think the plain suede ones are worth $85. My only complaint on those is that the collar rips if you try to slip em on and off without untying them. As shitty as that is, it's easily avoidable. They're tanks otherwise, and they've always skated great.
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tvv is gonna get a hair cut and we'll all be like holy shit this guy is the best
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tvv is gonna get a hair cut and we'll all be like holy shit this guy is the best
Seen him in person, and it’s ridiculous how good he is; like watching a savant play THPS.
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tvv is gonna get a hair cut and we'll all be like holy shit this guy is the best
with that name he'll be giving up the stunt wood to spend time on the links any second now
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
I don’t get keeping Kyle Walker over him, but TVV has that bland ripper status that makes me think he’ll end up in Adidas
He does a lot of non-bland pretzel tricks though. I think he’s interesting. He deserves a good shoe sponsor.
he'll probably end up on NB#
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
I don’t get keeping Kyle Walker over him, but TVV has that bland ripper status that makes me think he’ll end up in Adidas
Yeah I’d keep the cheaper skater who hasn’t reached his prime over the guy who seems like he’s winding down.
My local doesn’t carry the Walker, kinda forgot his shoe is still in the current line
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
I don’t get keeping Kyle Walker over him, but TVV has that bland ripper status that makes me think he’ll end up in Adidas
He does a lot of non-bland pretzel tricks though. I think he’s interesting. He deserves a good shoe sponsor.
I like his tricks a lot, he just suffers from being too much of a Midwest Real skater where this isn’t much else to sink your teeth into, so you kinda forgot about him when he isn’t there.
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The latest Thrasher confirms they kicked off Taylor Kirby and Tanner Van Vark, but added someone new. Anyone know who?
Kirby tagged Nike in his new post. hope he’s getting paid
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Tanner van vark of Vans too...another guy that i thought was a random fit that they did absolutely nothing with
I don’t get keeping Kyle Walker over him, but TVV has that bland ripper status that makes me think he’ll end up in Adidas
He does a lot of non-bland pretzel tricks though. I think he’s interesting. He deserves a good shoe sponsor.
I like his tricks a lot, he just suffers from being too much of a Midwest Real skater where this isn’t much else to sink your teeth into, so you kinda forgot about him when he isn’t there.
This and the Andrew Brophy level hat game.
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TVV is the opposite of bland. Super unique tricks, great style, and always made whatever Vans he was wearing look great. You all sound nuts.
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
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taylor kirby skating in some nikes ;
https://www.instagram.com/p/C48Qo5kL8Qp/
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
i doubt aidan and ben will have their contracts not renewed as long as they’re on supreme
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
Isn’t Supreme interest waning?
Dick doesn’t fit with those names bc he produces a lot.
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
Isn’t Supreme interest waning?
Dick doesn’t fit with those names bc he produces a lot.
I’m guessing VK420 meant because Vans/Supreme are both VFCorp fam; maybe?
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
Isn’t Supreme interest waning?
Dick doesn’t fit with those names bc he produces a lot.
yeah and if im not mistaking ben got on vans from converse bc of supreme and aidan stayed on vans instead of going to converse bc of supreme
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Tanner's IG is completely wiped, no posts and the profile pic is just solid white. only tags 3rd Lair and After Hours Skateshop in his bio. TVV of Real and his other sponsors too?
https://www.instagram.com/tannervanvark/
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Tanner's IG is completely wiped, no posts and the profile pic is just solid white. only tags 3rd Lair and After Hours Skateshop in his bio. TVV of Real and his other sponsors too?
https://www.instagram.com/tannervanvark/
I heard golfing now because of his name or something…
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Could see him on NB
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Tanner's IG is completely wiped, no posts and the profile pic is just solid white. only tags 3rd Lair and After Hours Skateshop in his bio. TVV of Real and his other sponsors too?
https://www.instagram.com/tannervanvark/
Wild. He had some insane talent to never have a definitive part like he could have put out.
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Tanner's IG is completely wiped, no posts and the profile pic is just solid white. only tags 3rd Lair and After Hours Skateshop in his bio. TVV of Real and his other sponsors too?
https://www.instagram.com/tannervanvark/
Wild. He had some insane talent to never have a definitive part like he could have put out.
I wonder if something happened if he's suddenly off everything.
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
Isn’t Supreme interest waning?
Dick doesn’t fit with those names bc he produces a lot.
SVD really liked Dick's shirt, so he's got that going for him too!
I love Dick4EVER.
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
Isn’t Supreme interest waning?
Dick doesn’t fit with those names bc he produces a lot.
SVD really liked Dick's shirt, so he's got that going for him too!
I love Dick4EVER.
Big Dick fan right here as well! I love just bottoming out on his footy.
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
As if all the awful collabs with SpongeBob,Marvel,Hello Kitty, Reese's weren't enough... They're not even trying with this one. What overpaid person thought lets just cut two shoes in half?
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tvv is gonna get a hair cut and we'll all be like holy shit this guy is the best
This is pretty accurate
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Jesus tapdancing Christ
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tvv is gonna get a hair cut and we'll all be like holy shit this guy is the best
Him moving back to the midwest, I hope Alien Workshop hops on this.
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tvv is gonna get a hair cut and we'll all be like holy shit this guy is the best
This is literally what happened to Caswell Berry in the early 00s
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
As if all the awful collabs with SpongeBob,Marvel,Hello Kitty, Reese's weren't enough... They're not even trying with this one. What overpaid person thought lets just cut two shoes in half?
oh shit, they got the spizikes!
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
As if all the awful collabs with SpongeBob,Marvel,Hello Kitty, Reese's weren't enough... They're not even trying with this one. What overpaid person thought lets just cut two shoes in half?
first of, I am by no means a fan of vans. its shoes for normies. that said, what do u think "of the wall" implies?
also, this is not the first time shoes like this have been done:
theres these ugly ishod mismatches
(https://static.nike.com/a/images/t_prod_sc/w_640,c_limit,f_auto/y0i3uivx1fotrbgsm9mk/nike-sb-decon-dunk-low-x-ishod-wair-mismatch-release-date.jpg)
you have these monstrosities
(https://media.endclothing.com/media/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_480/prodmedia/media/catalog/product/3/0/30-11-2020_ML_CU7349-001_m7_1.jpg)
also not a Jordan brand fan but as far as I know these were the first:
(https://img.stadiumgoods.com/jordan-air-jordan-1-retro-high-og-nrg-homage-2-home-non-numbered_13123245_42981206_2048.jpg)
louie got a fit of during his failed soty 2022 run where he had his shoe split blue and green, which was cool but I cant find the video. I "got" it when I saw the louie clip cause you see the outside of one shoe be blue and the inside of the other be green
edit: this isnt the clip I was thinking of but he has a similar fit @1:34
http://youtu.be/EdzqwdPfEDY?t=92
I just scoured Louies output for the past couple of years. impressive first, but crazy to think hes been on FA for 4 years already
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first of, I am by no means a fan of vans. its shoes for normies. that said, what do u think "of the wall" implies?
skating a wall
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
As if all the awful collabs with SpongeBob,Marvel,Hello Kitty, Reese's weren't enough... They're not even trying with this one. What overpaid person thought lets just cut two shoes in half?
oh shit, they got the spizikes!
At this point vans is of the wall..
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
fucking gas bro
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
Having no feet would be a better alternative than wearing these
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New Balance us to shoes what Krooked is to boards these days.. “Could see him on..”
Is Vans slimming down their lower-tiered squad?
Feels like that's exactly what they're doing. Going to keep the bigger names.
I legit feel like Aiden, Ben Kadow, Tyson, and Rizzo are the next to have their contracts run out.
those guys imo at least feel involved with the brand, and Vans actually makes an effort with them beyond just signing them to a contract. It didn't feel like they did that with Kirby, TVV, CJ collins
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Vans is incompetent. As far as shoes go. They like getting a c if you own a restaurant and it’s a damn shame and in blame upper management
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my feeling is that rizzo must remain paid
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tvv is gonna get a hair cut and we'll all be like holy shit this guy is the best
Shhhh dlx already got the last two threads about him nuked. He’s like Voldemort now.
I hope they don’t cut rizzo, he makes vans look cool. You gotta wonder what pull Crockett has over there still to have had a pro model stay in the line the longest out of anyone who isn’t a legend or ave . I imagine some of the pull extends to keeping rizzo paid.
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Those might be the worst pair of vans I’ve ever seen.
Including all that shit they were doing trying to compete with DC and Etnies before that Cardiel ad bringing back “off the wall”, focusing on classics etc.
Like the “half cab 2” that shit looks like a hightop D3.
All grey Cab 6s were tough tho
Free max b
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
Part of the new Atiba influence maybe?
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That whole OTW is such a failure. Like they bought 250k followers to their IG-account, but even the bots are "yeah not gonna bother🔥-emoji this fucking shit".
I get they want to chase the dunk hypebeast crowd, but the difference is people actually want to wear dunks instead of some ugly ass mishmash abomination of different Vans-models by some dude called Potato.
But it's kinda ironic, that the thing that saved Vans in the 00's was when they went back to the classics instead of trying to copy what others were doing and now they are trying to stay relevant by doing the complete opposite.
I've pretty much only wore Vans for the last 20-something years, but they seem so lost right now, I'm probably gonna go for some other megacorporation shoes soon...
Fuck it, here's a free tip for Vans: bring back the Stranger Syndicate Eras, those were awesome.
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Dear Vans, Make shoes feel like they did when you made the AV6. Or just make the AV6 or AV3’s.
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i present to you: vans's savior
(https://assets.vans.com/images/t_img/f_auto,h_1690,w_1352/v1707369940/VN000CNKBKC-ALT1/Premium-Clash-the-Wall.png)
https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC (https://otw.vans.com/en-us/p/otw/footwear-90085/premium-clash-the-wall-VN000CNKBKC)
As if all the awful collabs with SpongeBob,Marvel,Hello Kitty, Reese's weren't enough... They're not even trying with this one. What overpaid person thought lets just cut two shoes in half?
oh shit, they got the spizikes!
At this point vans is of the wall..
Of the market more like
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That whole OTW is such a failure. Like they bought 250k followers to their IG-account, but even the bots are "yeah not gonna bother🔥-emoji this fucking shit".
I think its just the old vans vault instagram with the name change hence the followers
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That whole OTW is such a failure. Like they bought 250k followers to their IG-account, but even the bots are "yeah not gonna bother🔥-emoji this fucking shit".
I think its just the old vans vault instagram with the name change hence the followers
This. They nix'd the Vault line and replaced it with OTW.
Which is funny because the original OTW line from 10 years ago was killed. But I think it was because people didn't know what "Vault" was but were aware of "Off The Wall."
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That whole OTW is such a failure. Like they bought 250k followers to their IG-account, but even the bots are "yeah not gonna bother🔥-emoji this fucking shit".
I get they want to chase the dunk hypebeast crowd, but the difference is people actually want to wear dunks instead of some ugly ass mishmash abomination of different Vans-models by some dude called Potato.
But it's kinda ironic, that the thing that saved Vans in the 00's was when they went back to the classics instead of trying to copy what others were doing and now they are trying to stay relevant by doing the complete opposite.
I've pretty much only wore Vans for the last 20-something years, but they seem so lost right now, I'm probably gonna go for some other megacorporation shoes soon...
Fuck it, here's a free tip for Vans: bring back the Stranger Syndicate Eras, those were awesome.
Yes, please.
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Here's one rumor confirmed:
https://www.complex.com/style/a/tracewilliamcowen/supreme-sale-vf
Looks like Vans isn't in the firing line just yet.
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I'm really surprised how popular the Vans nu skools are. Suddenly everyone is wearing them
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I'm really surprised how popular the Vans nu skools are. Suddenly everyone is wearing them
Tiktok
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and here's the next update. There's a paywall but the headline says it all.
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/05/vans-continues-to-shrink-as-revenue-challenges-continue-vf-hints-its-ready-to-sell-brands-to-pay-down-debt/
"Vans Continues to Shrink as Revenue Challenges Continue; VF Hints It’s Ready to Sell Brands to Pay Down Debt
May 22, 2024
VF Corp. held a newsy earnings call Wednesday as the company races to cut costs, revamp ailing brands and offload others to pay down upcoming debt payments."
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and here's the next update. There's a paywall but the headline says it all.
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/05/vans-continues-to-shrink-as-revenue-challenges-continue-vf-hints-its-ready-to-sell-brands-to-pay-down-debt/
"Vans Continues to Shrink as Revenue Challenges Continue; VF Hints It’s Ready to Sell Brands to Pay Down Debt
May 22, 2024
VF Corp. held a newsy earnings call Wednesday as the company races to cut costs, revamp ailing brands and offload others to pay down upcoming debt payments."
So basically we’re selling supreme and revamping vans and the north face.
Let’s face it authentics are a forever shoe like a airmax or samba it’s just not in vogue right now, but people still wear them every day, you see at least a pair everyday. Just like the samba and look at the year those have had. Give it 18 months vans will be everywhere again.
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Never been a big vans guy but I had both these red leather syndicates ones years ago and really loved em both - would buy again
(https://i.ibb.co/wpX9f2S/IMG-3329.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wpX9f2S)
(https://i.ibb.co/D8gTjy5/IMG-3328.webp) (https://ibb.co/D8gTjy5)
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luckily the ultrarange neo XP will save vans mmmm since 66 steve van dorn bbq
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Never been a big vans guy but I had both these red leather syndicates ones years ago and really loved em both - would buy again
(https://i.ibb.co/wpX9f2S/IMG-3329.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wpX9f2S)
aww yeah i had those red joints too shit was fuego with my orange wheels
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Just keep making the crocketts and you’ll get $80 from me every 2 months
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Corporations need to figure out how to succeed without needing increasing profits every year. Vans won’t be trendy every year.
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Corporations need to figure out how to succeed without needing increasing profits every year. Vans won’t be trendy every year.
the shareholders can't get a fifth house with "cool trends"
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another one to save the brand making this one nice and big like that tongue
https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2 (https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2)
"A non-Sidestripe style that honors our heritage while pushing the boundaries of style forward, the Chukka Push utilizes exaggerated Y2K and skate-inspired flare on a classic blucher toe.
Simple but exaggerated, this modernized 90s style expands on the nostalgia trend while blazing its own forward-looking trail."
(https://images.vans.com/is/image/Vans/VN000CZW_BA2_ALT1?wid=1600&hei=1984&fmt=jpeg&qlt=90&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.9,1.7,8,0)
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That could be passable if it didn't have that stupid Vans tag on the side, and if they weren't very obviously going to hurt your feet.
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Just keep making the crocketts Rowan 2s and you’ll get $80 $100 from me every 2 months
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another one to save the brand making this one nice and big like that tongue
https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2 (https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2)
"A non-Sidestripe style that honors our heritage while pushing the boundaries of style forward, the Chukka Push utilizes exaggerated Y2K and skate-inspired flare on a classic blucher toe.
Simple but exaggerated, this modernized 90s style expands on the nostalgia trend while blazing its own forward-looking trail."
(https://images.vans.com/is/image/Vans/VN000CZW_BA2_ALT1?wid=1600&hei=1984&fmt=jpeg&qlt=90&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.9,1.7,8,0)
Disgusting. They had this same issue with tech shoes 25 years ago and here it is again with no solution in sight.
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another one to save the brand making this one nice and big like that tongue
https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2 (https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2)
"A non-Sidestripe style that honors our heritage while pushing the boundaries of style forward, the Chukka Push utilizes exaggerated Y2K and skate-inspired flare on a classic blucher toe.
Simple but exaggerated, this modernized 90s style expands on the nostalgia trend while blazing its own forward-looking trail."
(https://images.vans.com/is/image/Vans/VN000CZW_BA2_ALT1?wid=1600&hei=1984&fmt=jpeg&qlt=90&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.9,1.7,8,0)
Disgusting. They had this same issue with tech shoes 25 years ago and here it is again with no solution in sight.
Not exact colors, but giving me C1RCA Ramondetta vibes.
(https://www.backcountry.com/images/items/1200/CIR/CIR0075/RMBWT_D1.jpg)
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The real question is will Supreme sell for anything close to what they bought it for.. Confirmed via the news they are shopping it around.
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another one to save the brand making this one nice and big like that tongue
https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2 (https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/chukka-push-shoe-pvn000czwba2)
"A non-Sidestripe style that honors our heritage while pushing the boundaries of style forward, the Chukka Push utilizes exaggerated Y2K and skate-inspired flare on a classic blucher toe.
Simple but exaggerated, this modernized 90s style expands on the nostalgia trend while blazing its own forward-looking trail."
(https://images.vans.com/is/image/Vans/VN000CZW_BA2_ALT1?wid=1600&hei=1984&fmt=jpeg&qlt=90&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.9,1.7,8,0)
Disgusting. They had this same issue with tech shoes 25 years ago and here it is again with no solution in sight.
(https://www.backcountry.com/images/items/1200/CIR/CIR0075/RMBWT_D1.jpg)
Coming around full circle I guess
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Call me crazy but those chukka push aren’t that bad. Lemme see em in another color.
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I kind of like them. They’re pretty inoffensive, to be honest.
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The real question is will Supreme sell for anything close to what they bought it for.. Confirmed via the news they are shopping it around.
There’s no way.
What I never understood about the supreme valuation is that the brands products aren’t that expensive compared to how much they resell for. Idk how you get a two billion dollar worth selling $60 tshirts.
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I kind of like them. They’re pretty inoffensive, to be honest.
fr, at least its not a fuckn sock
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Call me crazy but those chukka push aren’t that bad. Lemme see em in another color.
Actually… these might be a good shoe. Not too thin, maybe just a hair too puffy but I for one am glad that the needle is moving just a litttttle bit closer to acknowledging that our feet kinda have to go into war every time we go skate and maybe we should have some protection for them. I’m not advocating for D3’s by any means… but most people in their 30’s will know what I mean.
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Yeah I agree with anyone saying that Chukka isn't too bad. Almost reminds me of a low top Half Cab
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there’s no way that’s a main line vans shoe, that’s like the most kohl’s looking van ever conceived
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These updates keep coming
https://shop-eat-surf.com/2024/05/vans-names-new-global-brand-president-from-lululemon/
You think Neen will get on or did he burn that LuLulemon bridge?
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At this point vans is basically the new sketchers
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Ross Dress for Less X Vans
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(https://i.ibb.co/k4VCMyJ/Vans-Skate-Speed-LS-Pop-Multi-Skate-Shoes-382973-front-US.jpg)
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Who decided to throw in the highlighter yellow with the earth tones. Doesn’t go together, in my opinion.
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should’ve just followed the ninja turtle colours
(https://i.imgur.com/t58T2Qq.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nqpXoI2.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KWgUrxK.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9WqijFt.jpeg)
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Cowabunga, dude! Now that’s what I’m talking about.
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OKAY, can 2003ish bad mall fashion nostalgia be over with
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For those thinking they could see them not fucking with Ben k anymore...letting the man put on his own shows with vans money
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7r8io2Jkr2/?img_index=1
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For those thinking they could see them not fucking with Ben k anymore...letting the man put on his own shows with vans money
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7r8io2Jkr2/?img_index=1
That was some horrendous music. That show probably cost a combined $50 total to put on considering he didn’t have to rent the space from an actual venue.
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Vans x Grocery Outlet
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Continuing the trend of Vans doing dumb shit... They just threw a huge party and IG takeover in Canada with some French Canadian singer/influencer chick. This stuff makes me cringe.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7U0M5Ny-cI/
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I don't know why this seems so hard for people to grasp, but appealing solely to skaters is not going to help Vans / VF hit their financial goals. The stuff skaters see as weird and cringe might.
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That whole OTW is such a failure. Like they bought 250k followers to their IG-account, but even the bots are "yeah not gonna bother🔥-emoji this fucking shit".
I get they want to chase the dunk hypebeast crowd, but the difference is people actually want to wear dunks instead of some ugly ass mishmash abomination of different Vans-models by some dude called Potato.
But it's kinda ironic, that the thing that saved Vans in the 00's was when they went back to the classics instead of trying to copy what others were doing and now they are trying to stay relevant by doing the complete opposite.
I've pretty much only wore Vans for the last 20-something years, but they seem so lost right now, I'm probably gonna go for some other megacorporation shoes soon...
Fuck it, here's a free tip for Vans: bring back the Stranger Syndicate Eras, those were awesome.
stranger era’s were lovely
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I don't know why this seems so hard for people to grasp, but appealing solely to skaters is not going to help Vans / VF hit their financial goals. The stuff skaters see as weird and cringe might.
This.
Why is it hard for Skaters to understand that 90% of all Vans products are bought by non-Skaters.
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For those thinking they could see them not fucking with Ben k anymore...letting the man put on his own shows with vans money
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7r8io2Jkr2/?img_index=1
That's pretty sick actually, Toxic State is the best current punk-label (and have been forever...).
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For those thinking they could see them not fucking with Ben k anymore...letting the man put on his own shows with vans money
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7r8io2Jkr2/?img_index=1
That's pretty sick actually, Toxic State is the best current punk-label (and have been forever...).
Punk rock sponsored by… Vans! So punk rock
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For those thinking they could see them not fucking with Ben k anymore...letting the man put on his own shows with vans money
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7r8io2Jkr2/?img_index=1
That's pretty sick actually, Toxic State is the best current punk-label (and have been forever...).
Yes..none of us ever went to the warped tour or listened to bands that were on it...Wait..
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getting back into music was something the vans CEO said they wanted to do. Which is a good stance, but I don't think Ben K new york punk thing or whoever canadian influecer things are the move.
Wapred tour was for the people(kids). Everyone got a chance to experience it. I've said it before, but I'm tired of vans new york focus.
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the post everyone is referencing was deleted but ben k has a great eclectic taste in music, don't really see why vans tapping into that crossover is seen as such a bad thing
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god forbid your riders be marketable off the board
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For those thinking they could see them not fucking with Ben k anymore...letting the man put on his own shows with vans money
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7r8io2Jkr2/?img_index=1
That's pretty sick actually, Toxic State is the best current punk-label (and have been forever...).
Yes..none of us ever went to the warped tour or listened to bands that were on it...Wait..
I have absolutely no memory of any specific band on warped tour.